Rese ab - CHAPTER 1 | The Scope of P 1.1 DEFINITION OF PHYSICS The colours in the rainbow, the dropping of a mango from the branch of a tree, the rusting of an iron piece, the growing of Plants, the motion of bodies, the formation of the solar system, etc, are all phenomena of nature. Such Phenomena Iead us to the study of sciénce. i, The subject of science is classified into two main branches : @ ‘the physical sciences and i (i) the biological sciences. The biological science deal with living things where as the physical Sciences are concerned with the properties and behaviour of non- living matter. The branch of Physical science which deals with the interaction of matter and energy is called physics. This is based on experimental observations and quantitative measurements. hysics Physics is therefore an experimental science which depends heavily upon the objective observations and measurement of natu- tal phenomena. The history of physics is as old as the history of mankind. Even the cave man was aware of the production of fire by rubbing two Stones together. The Chinese for the first time manufactured paper oe. Egyptian used to measure the flood level in the river The people of Euphrates and Tigris valleys were aware of ca- lendar and they had the knowledge of geometry. The people of in- _ Sus valley were the pioneers of decimal system.s contemporary of and mathematician. Hecleaners, washing mi > Invention of radio, te d luxury but also proved a mile and education. se of physics Is observed in €.g.from ordinary microscope on microscope, the use of laserlar day Is time interval between un overhead. Thus mean of time, was originally defined as r day. The time that is referredcould not take place in an one dimensional Physical phenomena around us, we be motion in two dimensions and ult as well. The projectile motion and ci600 700 800 900 1000 1300 1400 1500Gir , system (the parachute and the para 2 ; di rd trooper} js _ system moves lownward with a uniform 4 zero. Hy, oe Fg. 5.6 Aftera Jalls a certain distanees opens an peloegt thereafer with a uniform 5.4 FIRST CONDITION OF EQUILIBRIUM The condition states that a body will be in equilibrium if the resultant of all the forces acting on it is zero. This condition is re- ferred to as the first condition of equilibrium. 5.7 (a) Using the summation sign, the above Eq 5.7 can be written as F 5.700) i i. then Ifwe restrict to forces in one plane, say, the *Y plang We write ; pee this provides a suitab this we mean that one should n forces, if any. possible only if thre YopId explain the laws of of double rFig. 9.8 (b) A common type of Michelson interferometer. 9.8 DIFFRACTION According to the principles of geometrical optics, if we place an opaque object (an object through which light cannot Pass) be- tween a point source of light and a screen. a shadow of the obsta- cle is formed on the screen. In addition, we also observe the follow- ing: () No light reaches within the geometrical shadow of the obstacle at the screen. (i) Outside the geometrical shadow the screen is uniformal- ly illuminated. Fig. 9.9 shows the shadow of a razor blade placed between a Point source of a mono-chromatic light and a photographic plate. 19,29 The shadow produced when a razor blade ts ituminated by mon- Shromatic point source. Bee es eee 305rays are parallel to each other and the situation 1s described as Fraunhofer Nie ee ‘ae plans ypfaction is simpler to treat analytically ‘i fraction. This ia = ratories by using two converging lenses We be established in gource of light and obstacle, renders the ae = between distant and hence produces plane wavefronts, ween 0 each other ects the parallel set of diffracted rays and ‘eae ics: lens col. the screen as shown in Fig. 9.10(b and c) em at a point on 0 (a) Fiesnet diffraction. (b) Source S and screen C are moved 0 4 Bemen resulting in Fraunhofer diffraction. (0 Fraunhof foie? Rlposne nt by lenses, leaving source Sand screen 9.9.1 large 307