Physics Reviewer

Physics Reviewer
1. Basics of Physics
 Definition: Physics is the study of matter, energy, and their

interactions.
 Branches of Physics:
o Classical Mechanics (motion, forces)
o Thermodynamics (heat, temperature)
o Electromagnetism (electricity, magnetism)
o Modern Physics (quantum mechanics, relativity)
2. Motion and Forces
 Key Concepts:
o Distance: Total path traveled.
o Displacement: Straight-line distance from start to end (with

direction).
o Speed: Distance covered per unit time (scalar).
o Velocity: Speed with direction (vector).
o Acceleration: Change in velocity over time.
 Newton's Laws of Motion:
1. Law of Inertia: An object remains at rest or in uniform motion

unless acted upon by a force.
2. F = ma: Force equals mass times acceleration.
3. Action-Reaction: Every action has an equal and opposite

reaction.
 Equations of Motion (constant acceleration):
o v=u+atv = u + atv=u+at
o s=ut+12at2s = ut + \frac{1}{2}at^2s=ut+21at2
o v2=u2+2asv^2 = u^2 + 2asv2=u2+2as
Where:
uuu = initial velocity, vvv = final velocity, aaa = acceleration, sss
= displacement, ttt = time
3. Work, Power, and Energy
 Work (W):
Formula: W=Fdcos⁡θW = Fd\cos\thetaW=Fdcosθ
Where:
FFF = force, ddd = displacement, θ\thetaθ = angle between force and
displacement
 Power (P):
Formula: P=WtP = \frac{W}{t}P=tW
Where:
WWW = work, ttt = time
 Energy:
o Kinetic Energy (KE): KE=12mv2KE = \frac{1}{2}mv^2KE=21

mv2
o Potential Energy (PE): PE=mghPE = mghPE=mgh
o Conservation of Energy: Total energy is conserved in an

isolated system.
4. Waves and Sound
 Wave Properties:
o Wavelength (λ\lambdaλ): Distance between two consecutive

crests/troughs.
o Frequency (fff): Number of waves passing a point per second.
o Speed (vvv): v=fλv = f\lambdav=fλ
 Types of Waves:
o Transverse Waves: Particles move perpendicular to wave

direction (e.g., light waves).
o Longitudinal Waves: Particles move parallel to wave direction
(e.g., sound waves).
 Sound:
o Speed of sound depends on the medium (fastest in solids,

slowest in gases).
o Frequency determines pitch; amplitude determines loudness.
5. Electricity and Magnetism
 Key Concepts:
o Current (I): Flow of electric charge (I=QtI = \frac{Q}{t}I=tQ).
o Voltage (V): Electric potential difference.
o Resistance (R): Opposition to current flow (R=VIR = \frac{V}

{I}R=IV).
 Ohm’s Law:
V=IRV = IRV=IR
 Magnetism:
o Magnetic fields are created by moving charges or magnets.
o Right-hand rule helps determine the direction of magnetic fields.
6. Thermodynamics
 Key Laws:
1. Zeroth Law: If two systems are in thermal equilibrium with a

third system, they are in thermal equilibrium with each other.
2. First Law: Energy cannot be created or destroyed, only

transferred or transformed (ΔU=Q−W\Delta U = Q - WΔU=Q−W).
3. Second Law: Heat flows from a hot body to a cold body

spontaneously.
4. Third Law: As temperature approaches absolute zero, entropy

approaches a minimum.
 Heat Transfer:
o Conduction: Transfer through a solid.
o Convection: Transfer through fluids.
o Radiation: Transfer via electromagnetic waves.
7. Light and Optics
 Reflection: Bouncing back of light from a surface.
o Law of Reflection: θi=θr\theta_i = \theta_rθi=θr.
 Refraction: Bending of light as it passes from one medium to another.
o Snell’s Law: n1sin⁡θ1=n2sin⁡θ2n_1\sin\theta_1 = n_2\sin\theta_2n1

sinθ1=n2sinθ2.
 Lenses and Mirrors:
o Convex: Focuses light; used in magnifying glasses.
o Concave: Diverges light; used in telescopes.
8. Modern Physics
 Einstein’s Theory of Relativity:
o Time and space are relative and depend on the observer’s

motion.
o E=mc2E = mc^2E=mc2: Energy and mass are interchangeable.
 Quantum Mechanics:
o Particles have both wave and particle properties.
o Energy levels are quantized.
9. Practice Problems
1. A car accelerates from rest at 3 m/s23 \, \text{m/s}^23m/s2 for 5

seconds. Find its final velocity.
2. If a force of 10 N10 \, \text{N}10N is applied to a 2 kg2 \, \text{kg}2kg
object, what is its acceleration?
3. A ball is dropped from a height of 10 m10 \, \text{m}10m. Find its

velocity just before hitting the ground (g=9.8 m/s2g = 9.8 \,
\text{m/s}^2g=9.8m/s2).
4. Calculate the power if 200 J200 \, \text{J}200J of work is done in 5

seconds.

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Physics Reviewer

 Definition: Physics is the study of matter, energy, and their

o Classical Mechanics (motion, forces)

o Thermodynamics (heat, temperature)

o Electromagnetism (electricity, magnetism)

o Modern Physics (quantum mechanics, relativity)

2. Motion and Forces

o Distance: Total path traveled.

o Displacement: Straight-line distance from start to end (with

o Speed: Distance covered per unit time (scalar).

o Velocity: Speed with direction (vector).

o Acceleration: Change in velocity over time.

 Newton's Laws of Motion:

1. Law of Inertia: An object remains at rest or in uniform motion

2. F = ma: Force equals mass times acceleration.

3. Action-Reaction: Every action has an equal and opposite

 Equations of Motion (constant acceleration):

3. Work, Power, and Energy

o Kinetic Energy (KE): KE=12mv2KE = \frac{1}{2}mv^2KE=21

o Potential Energy (PE): PE=mghPE = mghPE=mgh

o Conservation of Energy: Total energy is conserved in an

4. Waves and Sound

o Wavelength (λ\lambdaλ): Distance between two consecutive

o Frequency (fff): Number of waves passing a point per second.

o Speed (vvv): v=fλv = f\lambdav=fλ

o Transverse Waves: Particles move perpendicular to wave

o Speed of sound depends on the medium (fastest in solids,

o Frequency determines pitch; amplitude determines loudness.

5. Electricity and Magnetism

o Current (I): Flow of electric charge (I=QtI = \frac{Q}{t}I=tQ).

o Voltage (V): Electric potential difference.

o Resistance (R): Opposition to current flow (R=VIR = \frac{V}

o Magnetic fields are created by moving charges or magnets.

o Right-hand rule helps determine the direction of magnetic fields.

1. Zeroth Law: If two systems are in thermal equilibrium with a

2. First Law: Energy cannot be created or destroyed, only

3. Second Law: Heat flows from a hot body to a cold body

4. Third Law: As temperature approaches absolute zero, entropy

o Conduction: Transfer through a solid.

o Convection: Transfer through fluids.

o Radiation: Transfer via electromagnetic waves.

7. Light and Optics

 Reflection: Bouncing back of light from a surface.

o Law of Reflection: θi=θr\theta_i = \theta_rθi=θr.

 Refraction: Bending of light as it passes from one medium to another.

o Snell’s Law: n1sin⁡θ1=n2sin⁡θ2n_1\sin\theta_1 = n_2\sin\theta_2n1

 Lenses and Mirrors:

o Convex: Focuses light; used in magnifying glasses.

o Concave: Diverges light; used in telescopes.

 Einstein’s Theory of Relativity:

o Time and space are relative and depend on the observer’s

o E=mc2E = mc^2E=mc2: Energy and mass are interchangeable.

o Particles have both wave and particle properties.

o Energy levels are quantized.

1. A car accelerates from rest at 3 m/s23 \, \text{m/s}^23m/s2 for 5

3. A ball is dropped from a height of 10 m10 \, \text{m}10m. Find its

4. Calculate the power if 200 J200 \, \text{J}200J of work is done in 5

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