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LORRAONE GRACE TAN

IV- DEL MUNDO



Physics, the branch of science that deals with matter and energy. Recalling what is the main definition of
physics, what is the significance of studying physics, what is its nature and the various scientific giants that
contributed greatly to the foundation of physics and as well as the branches of Physics and it's sub-branches. Is the
first topic we had discussed to at least refresh our memories.
As what we have talk about, again... Physics is a branch of science that is concerned with the nature and
properties of matter and energy. In which it is categorized into two; mainly the Pure physics- the gathering of Physics
related ideas that adds further information to the body of knowledge and the Applied physics- known as
"Technology", the practical application of the gathered Physics related information.
After quite some time, we discussed the other branches such as the following: Astronomy/Astrophysics
(Stars, Galaxies, Cosmos), Classical Physics (Light, Heat, Motion, Electricity, Magnetism),Low Temperature
Physics (Superconductivity), Plasma Physics (Discharge tubes, Fusion), Quantum Physics (Lasers, LED's, Fiber
Optics, Quantum Dots), Atomic & Solid State Physics (Material Science, Semiconductors, Surface Physics,
Nanotechnology), Relativistic Physics (Stars, Cosmology, Particle Physics), Macromolecular Biology (Virus
crystallography), Accelerator Physics (Particle Accelerators, RF Devices, X-ray), Nuclear Physics (Nuclei, Fission,
Radiation Therapy), High Energy Particle Physics (Subatomic Physics, Quarks, Tomography) and a lot more.
Then came the scientific giants such as Isaac Newton, Albert Einstein , Thomas Alva Edison and so on and
so forth. It was also discussed that studying Physics as everyone knows has a great significance but some of us just
don't know the real deal that Physics contributes in our daily lives greatly. First according to our discussion, Physics
is significant because it is one of the most fundamental of the sciences, the second reason is that Physics is also
foundation of all engineering and technology and lastly the most striking reason of significance for me, is that Physics
is an Adventure!
Going to the next big thing, we started the conversation about Waves. And before tackling that we first did
an activity. and going back it was discussed that waves is a rhythmic disturbance that transfers energy through
matter or space. In which there different classifications of waves. First classification is either Mechanical or
Electromagnetic wave, in which when we say mechanical waves it requires a medium for energy to pass through in
addition to that Mechanical waves is sub divided into two; the Transverse and Longitudinal or the Compressional
waves. but before going to that classification if a wave is mechanical. I'll define what is an Electromagnetic wave, this
wave unlike Mechanical wave doesn't require any medium and allows energy pass through a vacuum.
Next is the definition as well as the difference between Transverse to Longitudinal/ Compressional Waves.
Transverse is a type of wave in which matter moves in the medium back and forth at right angles to the direction that
the wave is traveling while in Longitudinal waves matter in the medium moves back and forth in the same direction
that the wave travels. And addition to the other types of waves that was discussed we also have the Seismic waves
where in it is combination of transverse and compressional waves which carry energy along and through Earth.
There we're also parts of wave hat we're discussed as well. for transverse waves we have: Crest (the
highest point of a wave) and Trough (the lowest point of a wave), the other parts are the amplitude (height of a
wave), next is the wavelength (from the term itself the length of a wave from one crest to another). then in
Longitudinal waves we have the: Compression wherein a place in compressional wave where the particles are
pushed together and the Rarefaction wherein a place in compressional wave where the particles are spread apart.
Next discussing the wavelength (length of a wave form one crest to another), then Frequency and Period in
which Frequency is the number of waves that pass a given point each second and is measured through Hertz =
1/sec while Period is the amount of time it takes one wavelength to pass a point. we also did discussed that
frequency and period are reciprocal of each other. In addition to that the relationship between frequency and
wavelength is inversely related; meaning when the wavelength is long the frequency is low and if the wavelength is
short, the frequency is high. while in accordance with the amplitude and energy they are directly related with each
other if one increases the other increases and vice versa.
After that we did discuss wave speed stating that the speed of a wave depends on the properties of the
medium it is traveling through. And concerning wave speed a formula was given to calculate it: speed= wavelength x
frequency where in speed is denoted by V (m/s), wavelength is (m) and frequency is represented by f (Hz; 1/sec).
After the discussion of the said topic earlier the proceeding topics where still about waves but this time
about its behavior. this is the time where Reflection (the going back or bouncing back of a wave to the medium after
reaching the boundary), Refraction (When a wave passes from one medium to another, it changes speed and
direction at the interface or boundary), Diffraction (causes waves to bend but occurs when waves pass around an
object) and lastly Interference (when two or more waves overlap and combine to form a new wave)
Another additional information is the Law of Reflection stating that the angle of incidence and angle of
reflection is equal with each other. Another thing is that there are two types of Interference the Constructive (when
add together gives off a greater amplitude) and the Destructive (opposite of Constructive, lower amplitude is the
result). Next idea is about the boundary behavior of a wave, in which it is the behavior of a wave when it reaches the
end of its medium and that end is called 'boundary'. There are three types of boundary behavior and those are the
Fixed End Boundary, Free End Boundary, and the Change in Medium.
After some quite time, the next topic was about standing waves. Where in based on the PowerPoint
Presentation given to us standing waves we're defined as waves that produce when two waves with the same
frequency interfere with one another while traveling in opposite directions along the same medium. And based on the
definiton that I could recall about standing waves, It is called standing waves sue to the fact that it appears to stand
frozen in space and the main reason in the formation of sound source. And like other waves, standing waves have
parts as well and those parts are called Antinodes (areas of maximum amplitude) and Nodes (areas of zero
amplitude). Alongside Standing waves, Harmonic and Modes were discussed as well. With a general formula of


and the other formula related to this topic is


as well. while the nth harmonic has frequency;

.
We did also discussed the Electromagnetic waves, wherein in this area we further made a conversation
about Radio waves, Microwaves, Infrared Radiation, Visible light, Ultra Violet, X-ray and Gamma Rays. In which the
Radio waves have the longest wavelength in a the Electromagnetic Spectrum and the shortest is the Gamma Rays
but in terms of Frequency the one with the highest frequency is the Gamma Rays and the lowest is Radio waves.
Moving forth we did also discussed the Index of Refraction. The index of refraction (n) of a material is a
dimensionless constant obtained by dividing the speed of light (c) in a vacuum by the speed of light (v) in that
material; n = c /v. Then goes with the topic with light under Optics. In which we discussed the real nature of light
stating that The propagation of light is best described by a wave model, but understanding emission and absorption
requires a particle approach.
Then there are various sources of light and the main source is the Sun, another sources are called
Incandescent, Luminescent, Synchrotron and so much more including fire. The we have the speed of a wave that is
also used t calculate the speed of a light; c = f in which the speed of light is denoted by c instead of V. In addition to
that the constant speed of light in a vacuum is

. Another formula is the Einstein Equation: E = hf =


hc / , a particle of light is called photon has energy E that is related to the wavelength and the frequency f of the
light wave by Einstein equation and where in where c is the speed of light and h is another universal constant called
Plancks constant that could be: h = 6.625 x 10
-34
J.s, h= 4.135 x10
-15
eV.s or h= 6.625 x 10
-27
erg.s.
And lastly the topic that we had discussed was all about Images, in which it was defined that Image is a
visual reproduction of an object formed by a mirror or a lens. Incident rays coming from an object strike a mirror or a
lens may form an image after being reflected or refracted also classified into two: Real and Virtual Images. Alongside
this topic is Mirrors and ray diagrams for convex and concave mirrors that somewhat drives my head crazy. Truthfully
speaking I do have topics that makes my head spin but alongside this feeling there are also topics that made me
think out of curiosity and it is really fun.

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