What Is Physics? Music: Physical, by Olivia Newton John (Instrumental) Point out that ONJ is connected to physics in some other ways. Her last name is Newton, and ? (Ans.: Her grandfather is Max Born.)

Objectives 1. Identify activities and fields that involve the major areas within physics. 2. Describe the role of models and diagrams in physics.

What is physics? Physics is the study of the physical world, that is, the world of matter and energy. Physics is everywhere; any problem that deals with temperature, size, motion, position, shape, or color involves physics. Engage- Ask students to describe some of the “current event” problems from their summer assignment. . Input- Ask student if any of these problems involve physics. Most likely, they all will. State that we must define physics to see if this is so.

Areas Within Physics Name Subjects motion and its causes heat and temperature specific types of repetitive motion light electricity, magnetism, and light Point out how each of these relate to listed careers.

Areas Within Physics Name Subjects mechanics motion and its causes heat and temperature specific types of repetitive motion light electricity, magnetism, and light

Areas Within Physics Name Subjects mechanics motion and its causes thermodynamics heat and temperature specific types of repetitive motion light electricity, magnetism, and light

Areas Within Physics Name Subjects mechanics motion and its causes thermodynamics heat and temperature vibrations and waves specific types of repetitive motion light electricity, magnetism, and light

Areas Within Physics Name Subjects mechanics motion and its causes thermodynamics heat and temperature vibrations and waves specific types of repetitive motion optics light electricity, magnetism, and light

Areas Within Physics Name Subjects mechanics motion and its causes thermodynamics heat and temperature vibrations and waves specific types of repetitive motion optics light electromagnetism electricity, magnetism, and light

Areas Within Physics Name Subjects relativity Particles moving at any speed, including very high speed Behavior of submicroscopic atomic particles

Areas Within Physics Name Subjects relativity Particles moving at any speed, including very high speed quantum mechanics Behavior of submicroscopic atomic particles

From: Holt Physics Teaching Transparencies Guided practice- go over above. From: Holt Physics Teaching Transparencies

What area of physics is most relevant to: A high school football game? Food preparation for the prom? Playing in the school band? Lightning in a thunderstorm? Wearing a pair of sunglasses outside in the sun? IP- Ask s. to write answers to above in notes.

How Physicists Simplify Reality System – a set of items or interactions considered a distinct physical entity for the purpose of study; usually, this involves a single object and the items that immediately affect it. Model- a replica or description designed to show the structure or workings of an object, system or concept. Input- One way to simplify reality is by consider an isolated system. We did this when we decided not to watch the motion of everything everywhere, but only the movement of a pendulum.

Scientific Method Using models can help to build hypotheses. Hypothesis – a possible answer, based on background information available. provides a plan or model for investigation or experimentation. Controlled experiment – an experiment involving the manipulation of a single variable or factor. Input- Show above, then say that based on Galileo’s model, we should reformulate our hypothesis. Neglecting air friction, two objects will fall at same rate regardless of mass. We should control for variable of size by only using pennies. We can tape some pennies together. Do that demonstration.

Scientific Methods Independent variable- the quantity that is manipulated by the experimenter in an experiment in order to determine its effect on another quantity. Dependent variable- the quantity that is being measured; the experimenter tries to determine how the dependent variable is affected by changes in the independent variable. Input- Explain how above relates to our experiment.

Graphing experimental results When graphing the results of an experiment, the independent variable is graphed on the horizontal axis, and the dependent variable is graphed on the vertical axis. Closure- We now know what physicists do. Next we will learn about the tools they use, namely mathematics.