In this article, we shall study refraction through prism.

Prism:

A prism is a portion of a transparent medium which is bounded by non-parallel plane surfaces. The two plane surfaces ABCD and AEFD intersecting each other in line AD are called the refracting faces of the prism.  The angle between the two refracting faces ABCD and AECD is called the refracting angle of the prism.  The face BEFC is called the base of the prism.

Terminology of Prism:

Prism Formula:

From figure, ∠ NQP = i and ∠  RQT = r₁

∴   ∠  FQR = i – r₁

From figure, ∠ MRS = e and ∠ QRT = r₂

∴  ∠ FRQ = e – r₂

Now ∠ GFR is external angle of ΔFQR by property at external angle

∠ GFR = ∠ FRG + ∠ FQR

∴  ∠ GFR = e – r₂ + i – r₁

∴  ∠  GFR = i + e – r₁ – r₂

∴   ∠ GFR = i + e – (r₁ + r₂)

∴   δ = I + e – (r₁ + r₂ ) ………………(1)

Consider ΔQTR

∴  ∠ RQT + ∠  QTR + ∠ TRQ = 180°

∴   r₁ + ∠ QTR+ r₂ = 180°

∴   ∠ QTR = 180° – r₁ – r₂

∴   ∠ QTR = 180° – (r₁ + r₂) …………….(2)

□ AQRT is cyclic quadrilateral, by property of cyclic quadrilateral

∴   ∠ QAR + ∠ QTR = 180°

∴   A + ∠ QTR = 180°

∴   ∠ QTR = 180° – A …………… (3)

From (2) & (3)

∴  180° – A = 180°  – (r₁ + r₂)

A =  –  (r₁ + r₂)

∴  A =  r₁  +  r₂  …………..(4)

from (1) and (4)

= i + e – A ……………(5)

As angle of incidence increases angle of deviation (ð) decreases up to certain minimum value ð_m called angle of minimum deviation then it starts increasing

At minimum deviation ð =  ð_m and i = e.

Substituting these values in equation (5)

ð_m = i + i – A

∴ ð_m + A = 2 i

∴ i = (A + ð_m) /2   ………….(6)

similarly at minimum deviation, r₁ = r₂ = r

substituting this value in equation (4)

r₁ + r₂ = A

r + r = A

2r = A

∴ r =  A/2  ………(7)

by Snell’s Law

where μ = refractive index of the material of the prism

This formula is known as prism formula.

Terminology:

Deviation:

When a ray of light passes from one medium to another it changes its path, this phenomenon of light is called the deviation of light. When a ray of light passes through a prism it suffers refraction twice. Once while it enters the prism and again while it emerges from it.

When light rays pass from optically rarer medium to optically denser medium, the light rays bend towards the normal. When light rays pass from optically denser medium to optically rarer medium, the light rays bend away from the normal.

Angle of deviation:

The angle between the direction of the incident ray and the direction of the emergent ray is called the angle of deviation.

Angle of Minimum Deviation:

For a given prism the value of the angle deviation depends on the value of the angle of incidence. As the angle of incidence is increase the angle of deviation steadily decreases up to a certain minimum value of the angle of deviation. This minimum value of the angle of deviation is called angle of minimum deviation.  It can be shown graphically as follows.

For a particular angle of incidence, the angle of deviation is the least. This least angle of deviation is called the angle of minimum deviation.

At minimum deviation angle of incidence and angle of emergence are equal i.e. i = e. Similarly, the angle of refraction are equal i.e. r₁ = r₂

The angle of minimum deviation as produced by a prism depends upon (i) the refracting angle of the prism and (ii) Refractive index of the material of the prism.

Thin Prism:

The prism whose refracting angle is less than 5° is called thin prism.

By prism formula we have

∴   μ A = A + δ

∴  δ = μ A – A

∴  δ = A(μ  – 1)

This is an expression for the angle of deviation in case of a thin prism.

Science > Physics > Refraction of Light > Refraction Through Prism

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When a ray of light approaches a smooth polished surface and the light ray bounces back, it is called the reflection of light. The surface which reflects the light is called a reflecting surface. The ray of light approaching the reflecting surface is called the incident ray. The ray bounced back and moving away from the reflecting surface is called the reflected ray.

Diffusion Reflection:

In this type of reflection, the incident ray of light strikes a surface and the light is scattered after reflection. Reflected rays move in many directions. The angle of incidence and angles of reflection are different. A perfectly diffusing surface is one for which luminance is independent of the direction of observation. e.g. reflection from paper, unpolished clay pot.

Regular Reflection:

In regular reflection, a parallel beam of incident light is reflected as a parallel beam in one direction. In this case, parallel incident rays remain parallel even after reflection and go only in one direction. Surfaces showing regular reflection appear bright only in one direction only for the given position of the eye. A surface which reflects regularly nearly all the light incident on it is called a mirror.

The objects having a shiny or polished surface reflects more light compared to the objects having a dull or unpolished surface. Silver metal is the best reflector of light. Hence plane mirror is made by depositing a thin layer of silver metal on one side of a plane glass sheet. The silver coating is protected by red paint. e.g. mirror, polished metal surface, polished pots

Water at glazing incidence (i = 90°) is a good reflector. Hence we can see images of the sun and nearby trees in the river in the morning and evening but not at noon. If the sea is observed from an airplane the part of the sea exactly below appears dark but that part at the horizon appears shiny.

Terminology of Reflection:

• Incident Ray: The ray of light falling on the surface of a mirror is called incident ray.
• Point of Incidence: The point at which the incident ray touches the mirror surface is called the point of incidence.
• Reflected Ray: The ray of light which is sent back by the mirror from the point of incidence is called reflected ray.
• Normal: A line perpendicular to the mirror surface at the point of incidence is called normal.
• Angle of incidence: 
• The angle made by the incident ray with the normal is called the angle of incidence.
• Angle of Reflection: 
• The angle made by the reflected ray with the normal at the point of incidence is called the angle of reflection.
• Object: Anything which gives out light with off its own of reflected by it is called an object.
• Image: When the light rays coming from an object are reflected from a mirror then an optical appearance which is produced by the mirror is called an image. Images are of two types, real image, and virtual image.
• Real Image: The image which can be seen on the screen is called a real image.
• Virtual Image: The image which cannot be obtained on a screen is called a virtual image.
• Lateral Inversion: The change of sides of an object in its mirror image is called lateral inversion. It happens due to the reflection of light. In this case, the right side of the object becomes left side of the image and the left side of the object becomes the right side of the image

Laws of Reflection:

• The angle of incidence is equal to the angle of reflection
• The incident ray and the reflected ray lie on either side of the normal at the point of incidence
• The incident ray, reflected ray and the normal at the point of incidence lie in the same plane.

Image of Point in a Plane Mirror:

Theory:

XY is a reflecting surface and A is a point source of light(object) emitting light in all the directions. AO is normal to the reflecting surface XY. Ray AP is incident on the surface XY at an angle of inclination i, and reflected ray is ray PB. PN is normal to surface XY at P.

∠ APN = ∠ PAO = i  (alternate angles)

∠ OA’P = ∠ NPB = i (corresponding angles)

In Δ AOP and Δ A’OP

∠ AOP = ∠ A’OP  (Each 90°)

∠ OA’P = ∠ OAP  (each equal to i)

OP is a common side

∴ Δ AOP ≅ Δ A’OP

∴ OA’ = OA

Conclusions:

• The image of a point in a plane mirror lies behind the mirror along the normal produced from the object and is as far behind the mirror as the object is in front.
• The image is virtual and erect. The image is virtual because the rays of light are not coming from it but appear to come from it.

Image of an Extended Object in a Plane Mirror:

Let us consider an object AB in front of the mirror as shown. The plane of the mirror is perpendicular to the plane of the paper (screen). As per the image of a point in a plane mirror, point A’ is an image of point A and point B’ is an image of point B. Hence A’B’ is the image of the object AB.

Generally, plane mirrors are put in the vertical plane, there is a lateral inversion of the image. Thus the image formed is virtual, erect,  as the same size of object, laterally inverted, and is as far behind the mirror as the object is in front.

Rotation of Mirror:

A ray of light is incident on a mirror at the angle of incidence i and is reflected back at the angle of reflection r = i. Thus there is a deviation of the ray is (180° – 2i). Let the mirror be rotated through angle θ keeping the direction of incident ray same. Then angles of incidence and deviation  become (i + θ) and (180° – 2(i + θ)).

The change in direction of incident ray = (180° – 2i) – (180° – 2(i + θ))

The change in direction of incident ray = 180° – 2i – 180° + 2i + 2θ = 2θ

Thus if the mirror itself is rotated by θ, then reflected ray turns through angle 2θ

Inclined Mirrors:

Mirrors Perpendicular to Each Other:

If the two mirrors are perpendicular to each other, then the ray suffers one reflection each at the two mirrors and the final reflected ray (emergent ray) is antiparallel to the incident ray.

The object O will give image I₁ in mirror M₁ and image I₂ in mirror M₂. Now image I₁ is an object for extended mirror M2 its image in M2 is I3. Now image I2 is an object for extended mirror M1 its image in M1 is I4. The images I3 and I4 coincide. Thus three images are formed I1, I2, and I₃(or I₄).

Mirrors at angle 60° With each Other:

Number of Images in Inclined  Mirrors:

If θ is the angle between the mirrors, then find quantity 360/θ = n (say). If the value of n is even then the number of the image is (n -1) (it is true for both symmetrical and unsymmetrical position of the object)

If the value of n is even then the number of the image is n for the symmetrical position of the object and (n – 1) for the unsymmetrical position of the object If n is fraction number of images are equal to integer part.

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In this article, we shall study the phenomenon of total internal reflection and its applications.

Total Internal Reflection of Light and its Explanation:

Let us consider a point source O in a denser medium (Water). Let XY be the boundary separating the denser medium (Water) and the rarer medium (Air). As the angle of incidence increases, the angle of refraction also increases. At a particular angle of incidence i_C, the angle of refraction is 90° and hence the refracted ray moves along the surface of water i.e. along XY. If the angle of incidence is more than i_C, there is no refracted ray, the incident ray is completely reflected back in the water. This phenomenon is known as total internal reflection.

In such cases the intensity of incident ray and the intensity of reflected ray are the same, hence the image obtained in total internal reflection are brighter. In the case of a mirror, some energy from incident ray is absorbed by the mirror, surface hence the intensity of reflected ray is less than the incident ray. Hence the images obtained from the mirror are somewhat dull

Critical angle:

When the angle of refraction in rarer medium (air) is 90°, the angle of incidence in the denser medium (water) is called the critical angle for the material. It is denoted by i_C. It is the minimum angle of incidence when the total internal reflection of light takes place

The critical angle for the glass-air interface is maximum for red colour and minimum for violet colour.

Conditions for Total Internal Reflection of Light:

• The ray of light should travel through an optically denser medium into an optically rarer medium.
• The angle of incidence should be equal or greater than the critical angle (i_C) for the two mediums.

To Show  sin i_C = 1/ ₂μ₁

By Snell’s law

₁μ₂ = sin i /sin r

By the principle of reversibility of light, we can write

₂μ₁ = sin r /sin i

At total internal reflection, i = i_C and the angle of refraction r = 90°

₂μ₁ = sin 90° /sin i_C

∴ ₂μ₁ = 1 /sin i_C

∴ sin i_C   = 1 / ₂μ₁    (Proved as required)

Numerical Problems on Critical Angle:

Example – 01:

The critical angle for the air-glass interface is 45°. Find the refractive index of the glass.

Given: Critical angle = i_C = 45°.

Fo find: Refractive index of glass = μ =?

Solution:

∴ μ = 1 /sin i_C =  1/sin45° = 1 / 0.707 =  1.414

Ans:  The refractive index of glass is 1.414

Example – 02:

The critical angle for a medium is 40°. Find the refractive index of the medium.

Given: Critical angle = i_C = 40°.

Fo find: Refractive index of medium = μ =?

Solution:

∴ μ = 1 /sin i_C =  1/sin40° = 1 / 0.6428 =  1.56

Ans:  The refractive index of medium is 1.56

Example – 03:

Find critical angle of water air interface. Given _an_w = 4/3 = n.

Given: refractive index of water w.r.t. air = _an_w = 4/3

Fo find: Critical angle = i_C =?

Solution:

∴ 4/3 = 1 /sin i_C 

∴ sin i_C = 3/4 = 0.75

∴   i_C = sin^-1(0.7500) = 48°36′

Ans:  The critical angle for water air interface is   48°36′.

Applications of Total Internal Reflection of Light:

• The phenomenon of total internal reflection of light is used in many optical instruments like telescopes, microscopes, binoculars, spectroscopes, periscopes etc.
• The brilliance of a diamond is due to total internal reflection.
• Optical fibre works on the principle of total internal reflection.
• This phenomenon is used in many optical instruments like telescopes, microscopes, binoculars, spectroscopes, periscopes etc.
• The phenomenon of mirage can be explained on the basis of total internal reflection.

Sparkling Brilliance of Diamond:

Total internal reflection of the light phenomenon is also used in polishing of diamonds, to create a sparkling brilliance effect. Sparkling brilliance of diamond can be explained as follows

For diamond and air interface the difference between the refractive index of a diamond (μ = 2.8) and the refractive index of air (μ = 1)  is very large. The critical angle for a diamond in diamond and air interface is very small (24.4°).

By polishing the diamond with specific cuts it is adjusted that most of the light rays approaching surface are incident with the angle of incidence more than the critical angle. Hence they suffer multiple total internal reflections and ultimately come out of diamond from the top. This gives the diamond a sparkling brilliance.

Optical Fibre:

When light enters the core of glass fibre from one end with such that the angle of incidence is greater than critical angle then, it suffers total internal reflection of light many times and emerges out as the divergent beam from another end. This is known as the principle of the optical fibre.

Each fibre is made up of a material of high refractive index. Its outer side is covered by a layer of material of low refractive index, which provides a suitable boundary. Due to this, the transmission of light from one fibre to others is avoided.

The glass is not flexible and hence breaks easily. Hence the optical fibres are grouped together in a single cable, which is flexible and unbreakable.

Applications of optical fibre:

• It is used in optical communication.
• It is used in endoscopy.

Use of optical fibre  for communication:

Electrical or radio signals are converted into optical signals by modulating laser light. These signals enter one end of the optical fibre and are transmitted through it by total internal reflection to the desired place. At this end, these optical signals are again converted into electrical or radio signals.

Compared to copper cable,  loss of intensity of the signal is almost negligible. Besides many signals can be transmitted simultaneously.

Mirage:

A mirage is an optical phenomenon that creates the illusion of water and results from the refraction of light through a non-uniform medium.  Mirages are most commonly observed on sunny days when driving down a roadway. As you drive down the roadway, there appears to be a puddle of water on the road several metres (maybe one-hundred metres) in front of the vehicle. Of course, when you arrive at the perceived location of the puddle, you recognize that the puddle is not there.  The appearance of the water is simply an illusion.

Explanation of mirage can be given on the basis of total internal reflection of the light phenomenon. Mirages occur on sunny days. The role of the sun is to heat the roadway to high temperatures. This heated roadway, in turn, heats the surrounding air, keeping the air just above the roadway at higher temperatures than that day’s average air temperature. Hot air tends to be less optically dense than cooler air. As such, a non-uniform medium has been created by the heating of the roadway and the air just above it.

While light will travel in a straight line through a uniform medium, it will refract when travelling through a non-uniform medium. If a driver looks down at the roadway at a very low angle (that is, at a position nearly one hundred yards away), light from objects above the roadway will follow a curved path to the driver’s eye as shown in the diagram. Now, the observer receives two rays from the object, one direct and other curved. Thus the illusion of water takes place.

Reflecting Prisms in Periscope and Binoculars:

It works on the principle of total internal reflection of the light phenomenon. In periscope, we use the totally reflecting prisms which turn the ray through 90°.  A totally reflecting prism is that which has one of its angle equal to 9° and each of the remaining two angles equal to 45°.

If a ray of light from an object strikes one of its faces at a right angle, it enters the prism without any change of direction and meets the hypotenuse at an angle of 45°, so the angle of incidence is also 45°. As the angle of incidence is greater than the critical angle of the glass which is 42°, the ray will be totally reflected, the angle of reflection is 45°. Now this reflected light strikes the faces of the second prism at a right angle, it enters the prism without any change of direction and meets its hypotenuse at an angle of 45°, so the angle of incidence is also 45°. Again due to total internal reflection of light is reflected by the angle of reflection 45° towards the eye of the observer.

The image obtained using the total internal reflection of light is clear and bright due to almost no loss of intensity.

Prismatic binoculars:

Science > Physics > Refraction of Light > Total Internal Reflection of Light

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Refraction of Light:

When light ray travelling in one optically active medium enters another optically active medium, then the light ray deviates from its path. This phenomenon is known as the refraction of light.

Laws  of Refraction:

• The ratio of the sine of the angle of incidence to the sine of the angle of refraction is always constant and is equal to the refractive index of the medium.  This law is known as Snell’s law.
• The incident ray and the refracted ray lie on the opposite side of the normal at the point of incidence.
• The incident ray, refracted ray and the normal at the point of incidence lie in the same plane.

Terminology of Refraction:

• Optical Medium: The medium capable of transmitting light is called as an optical medium.
• Isotropic medium:
• The homogeneous medium, which has the same properties in all directions is called an isotropic medium.
• Incident ray:
• The light ray, which is falling on reflecting or refracting surface is called the incident ray.
• Point of incidence: The point at which the incident ray cuts the reflecting or refracting surface is called the point of incidence.
• Normal: A perpendicular drawn to the surface at the point of incidence is called the normal.
• Angle of incidence:
• The angle made by the incident ray with the normal at the point of incidence is called the angle of incidence. It is denoted by ‘i’.
• Angle of Refraction:
• The angle made by the refracted ray with the normal at the point of incidence is called the angle of refraction. It is denoted by ‘r’.
• Angle of Deviation:
• The angle between the direction of the incident ray to the direction of the refracted ray is called the angle of deviation. it is denoted by ‘δ’.
• Glancing Angle:
• The angle made by incident ray with a refracting surface or interface is called a glancing angle.

Refractive Index of a Medium:

According to Huygens, the cause of the refraction of light is that the velocity of light is different in different media. The velocity of light is maximum in vacuum and air. The velocity of light in vacuum or air is denoted by letter ‘c’.

The relative refractive index of the second medium with respect to the first medium (₁μ₂)is defined as the ratio of the velocity of light in the first medium (v₁) to the velocity of light in the second medium (v₂). Mathematically,

When the first medium is vacuum or air the relative refractive index is known as the absolute refractive index.

Snell’s Law:

The ratio of the sine of the angle of incidence to the sine of the angle of refraction is always constant and is equal to the refractive index of the medium.  This law is known as Snell’s law.

Mathematically,

Principle of Reversibility of Light:

If, after undergoing a number of reflections and refractions, the direction of a ray of light is reversed, the ray traces its original path in the reverse direction. This principle is applicable to prisms and lens also.

Property:

If ₁μ₂ is the  refractive index of the second medium with respect to the first medium  and  ₂μ₁ is  the refractive index of the first medium with respect to the second medium, then

Proof:

To show that ₁μ₂ = μ₂/μ₁

The absolute refractive index of the medium is defined as the ratio of the velocity of light in the vacuum to the velocity of light in the medium.

The absolute refractive index of the first medium = μ₁ = v₁ / c …….. (1)

The absolute refractive index of the second medium = μ₂ = v₂ / c ………. (2)

Dividing equation (2) by equation (1) we have

μ₂/μ₁ =   v₂/v₁    …………………. (3)

The relative refractive index of the second medium with respect to the first medium (₁μ₂)is defined as the ratio of the velocity of light in the first medium (v₁) to the velocity of light in the second medium (v₂). Mathematically,

₁μ₂ = v₂/v₁     …………………. (4)

From equation (3) and (4) we have

₁μ₂ = μ₂/μ₁      (Proved as required)

Numerical Problems on Refractive Index:

Example – 01:

A ray of light in air is incident on a glass surface making an angle of 30° with the surface. the angle of refraction in a glass is 35°16′. Find the angle of deviation of the ray.

Given: Glancing angle = i_g = 30°. Hence angle of incidence = 90° – 30° = 60°

To find: Angle of deviation = δ = ?

Solution:

The angle of deviation = Angle of incidence – Angle of refraction

Angle of deviation = δ = 60° –   35°16′ = 24°44′

Ans:  The angle of deviation of the ray is 24°44′

Example – 02:

Find the refractive index of water. Given velocities of light in air and water as 3 × 10⁸ m/s and 2.25 × 10⁸ m/s respectively.

Given: Velocity of light in air = c = 3 × 10⁸ m/s and velocity of light in water = v = 2.25 × 10⁸ m/s

Fo find: Refractive index of water = μ =?

Solution:

μ = c /ν= 3 × 10⁸ /2.25 × 10⁸ = 1,333

Ans:  The refractive index of water is 1.33

Example – 03:

The refractive index of glass with respect to air is 1.5. Calculate the velocity of light in the glass. Given the velocity of light in the air as 3 × 10⁸ m/s.

Given: Velocity of light in air = c = 3 × 10⁸ m/s and refractive index of glass = μ = 1.5

Fo find: velocity of light in glass = v =?

Solution:

μ = c /v

∴   v = c/μ

∴   v = 3 × 10⁸ /1.5 = 2 × 10⁸ m/s

Ans:  The velocity of light in glass is 2 × 10⁸ m/s

Example – 04:

The refractive index of water w.r.t. air is 4/3. Find the relative refractive index in case when light travels from water into air.

Given: refractive index of water w.r.t. air = _aμ_w = 4/3

Fo find: refractive index of air w.r.t. water = _wμ_a =?

Solution:

_wμ_a ==  1/_aμ_w = 3/4 = 0.75

Ans:  The refractive index of air w.r.t. water is 0.75

Science > Physics > Refraction of Light > Introduction to Refraction of Light

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1.1.1.1 What is Physics?

Science word is derived from the Latin word ‘Scientia’ which means ‘to know’. Science has many disciplines, Physics being one of them. The word Physics is derived from the Greek word ‘Fusis’ meaning ‘nature’. Physics is that branch of Science which deals with the study of matter and energy or matter or motion i.e. Physics is a study of matter and energy in its different forms. In other words, physics is the study of nature and its laws. We expect that all the different events taking place in nature always take place according to some basic rules and revealing these rules of nature from the observed events in physics.

As physics is a study of nature and its behaviour it is real science. No one has been given authority to frame the rules. Sir Issac Newton, Einstein are the great physicist because using the observations available at that time, they could guess and frame the laws of physics, which explain these events and the observations in a convincing way. If a new phenomenon is observed which can not be explained using existing laws or rules we are always free to change the rules.

Knowledge of Physics overlaps with other sciences considerably, hence such overlapping gives rise to subjects like Biophysics, Biochemistry, Astrophysics, Geophysics, etc.

Physics can be conveniently divided into two parts, classical Physics (Pre-1900) and modern Physics (Post – 1900). Classical physics includes the study of mechanics, gravitation, heat, sound, light, electricity and magnetism. Modern Physics includes the study of quantum mechanics, relativity, atoms, molecules, nuclei, elementary particles, and condensed matter.

The complex physical phenomena involving wide range of length, mass. and time can be easily understood due to following reasons:

• A quantitative study of various natural phenomena shows that there is some regularity and symmetry even in the most complex phenomenon which helps us to understand it.
• All these phenomena can be explained in terms of only a few basic laws.
• Complex phenomena can be separated into simpler phenomena and by understanding these simple phenomena, the complex phenomena can be understood.

Scientific Methods:

The study of science and particularly in Physics is based on systematic observation, logical reasoning, model making, and theoretical prediction and necessary modifications. All the four steps taken together constitute what we call the ‘scientific method’. The scientific method helps us to describe the given physical phenomenon or behavior of a physical system in terms of a limited number of laws. This gives us what we call ‘theory’. The theory should be self-consistent and consistent with known experimental data. The discrepancy between the theory and experimental data has to lead to new theories in Physics.

Relation Between Physics and Mathematics:

Physics is directly related to maths because the description of nature becomes easy if we have the freedom to use mathematics. In physics, we use mathematical techniques like algebra, trigonometry, and calculus. Thus mathematics is a language of physics. Without knowledge of mathematics, it would be much more difficult to discover, understand and explain the laws of nature. But we should note that mathematics itself is not physics. To understand nature is a journey of physics, mathematics is the mean of the journey.

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1.1.1.2 Scope of Physics:

The scope of physics is broad and encompasses the study of the fundamental principles governing the natural world. Physics not only explores the properties and behaviour of matter and energy but also plays a crucial role in advancing technology, contributing to other scientific disciplines, and addressing fundamental questions about the nature of the universe. Here are key aspects of the scope of physics:

Mechanics:

Mechanics is a branch of physics, which deals with the motion of material bodies. In this branch, the forces responsible for producing or changing the motion of the body are studied. The energy involved is also studied. Newton’s laws of motion, the law of conservation of momentum and energy, Newton’s gravitation law forms the base of this branch of Physics.

Heat:

Heat is the energy that a body possesses by virtue of the motion of the molecules of which it is composed and the potential energy due to interatomic forces. The term heat is also used to indicate the energy in the process of transfer between an object and its surroundings because a difference exists between their temperatures. Thermodynamics is the name given to the branch of physics which studies the relationship between heat and mechanics.

Acoustics:

Acoustic is a branch which studies sound. Wave motion is studied in this branch.  An object in a state of vibration can set medium particles in the vibration and this disturbance in the medium can travel from one point to another. Thus sound is wave motion itself.

Optics:

Optics is a branch of science which studies electromagnetic waves to which the eye responds (light). Propagation of light means the propagation of electromagnetic waves with varying electric and magnetic fields through a vacuum or a transparent medium. It has two broad branches: geometric optics and physical optics.

Electricity and Magnetism:

These topics are interrelated with each other. We have to take the help of another topic when we are studying one of them individually. Electricity deals with the forces on charged particles, the effect of such forces. It also studies the phenomenon caused by the motion of charged particles. Magnetism can have an effect on the electric current. magnetic materials can be used in producing electric currents. Electronics is the branch of electricity.

Modern Physics:

Modern physics is the branch of physics which deals with the recent developments in the science-related to physics such as Radioactivity, X-Rays, Cathode Rays, Atomic and Molecular Structure, Quantum Theory and wave mechanics, etc.

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1.1.1.3 Pioneers of Physics

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1.1.1.4 Click Here to find the List of Noble Prize Winners in Physics

Conclusion:

Physics is a branch of science that seeks to understand the fundamental principles governing the natural world, encompassing everything from the smallest particles to the largest galaxies. It involves the study of matter, energy, space, and time, as well as the interactions between these elements. Physicists explore the fundamental laws and forces that govern the behaviour of the universe and seek to explain and predict the observed phenomena. Physics relies heavily on mathematical models and experimental observations. The scientific method is a fundamental aspect of physics, involving the formulation of hypotheses, experimentation, and the development of theories that can be tested and refined through further observations and experiments.

Related Topics:

• 1.1.2 Scientific Methods
• 1.1.3 Scientific View
• 1.1.4 Physics and Other Sciences

For More Topics in Physics Click Here

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