PHYSICAL WORLD

WHAT IS
SCIENCE ?
Science is a systematic enterprise
that builds and organizes knowledge
in the form of
▪ testable explanations
▪ predictions about the universe
▪ rational explanation
▪ reliable application
SCIENTIFIC
ATTITUDE
AND
SCIENTIFIC METHOD
SCIENTIFIC MEASUREMENT
SCIENTIFIC METHOD
Steps involved in scientific method of measurement are

•Systematic observation of relevant facts

•Proposal of hypothesis or theory based on observation

involving quantitative and qualitative reasoning,
mathematical modeling, and prediction
SCIENTIFIC
MEASUREMENT
SCIENTIFIC METHOD
Steps involved in scientific method of measurement are

•Testing the proposed theory to see its consequence are

actually observed in practice using controlled
experiment and for verification or falsification of theory

•Modification of theory
DYNAMIC NATURE OF SCIENCE:

•The interplay between the theory and

observation is the basic to the
progress of science

•That is science is ever dynamic

•That is there is no ‘final’ theory in science

DYNAMIC NATURE OF SCIENCE:
•Case I observation leads to theory
Example:
Ptolemy – Geo
centric theory
 DYNAMIC NATURE OF SCIENCE:
•Case I observation leads to theory
Example:

Nicolas Copernicus
---- put forward
Heileo centric theory
 DYNAMIC NATURE OF SCIENCE:
•Case I observation leads to theory
Example:
Tycho Brahe ---- observed
the sky and collected data
 DYNAMIC NATURE OF SCIENCE:
•Case I observation leads to theory
Example:
Johannes Kepler---
laws of planetary
motion
 I S
A T ?
H C S
W SI
H Y
P
- A way of describing the physical world
-Physics comes from the Greek “physis”
meaning “nature” and the Latin “physica”
meaning natural things
 1)
UNIFICATION
2)
REDUCTIONISM
❖Unification is attempt to explain various physical
phenomena in terms of just few concepts and laws.

❖e.g. the same law of gravitation can be used to describe

the motion of freely falling body and motion of planets
around the sun.
❖Reductionism is to explain a macroscopic system in terms of
its microscopic constituents.

❖e.g. Thermodynamics explains the macroscopic properties

like temp., internal energy, entropy etc.
❖Kinetic theory explains these properties in terms of
molecules.
 Thermodynamics
– Heat and
temperature Mechanics
Optics – –Motion and its
Behavior causes
of light

Vibrations and
Electromagnetism Branches
Waves – Periodic
– Electricity, of
motion
magnetism and
EM waves PHYSICS

Nuclear – Atomic –
Structure of the nucleus, Structure of the atom,
energy associated with energy associated with
nuclear changes atomic changes
PHYSICS IN
RELATION
TO
SOCIETY
❖Physics plays a key role in the future progress of
humankind. The support of physics education and
research in all countries is important because:

❖ Physics is exciting that inspires young people.

❖ Physics generates fundamental knowledge needed

for technological advances.

❖ Physics provides trained personnel needed to take

advantage of scientific advances and discoveries.
❖ Physics is an important element in the education of
chemists, engineers and computer scientists.

❖ Physics extends and enhances our understanding of

other disciplines.

❖ Physics improves our quality of life by providing the

basic understanding necessary for developing new
instrumentation and techniques.