Revision Notes

Class 11 physics
Chapter 1- Physical World
Science and its origin
Science can be defined as a systematic understanding of natural
phenomena in a very detailed manner so that we can predict, control and
modify it. Science is all about experimenting and exploring speculating
phenomena occurring around us.
• The term Science has been originated from a Latin verb Scientia
which means ‘to know’.
• Scientific method can be called as a method to acquire knowledge
in a systematic and in-depth way. It is having:
• Systematic observations
• Controlled experiments
• Qualitative and Quantitative reasoning
• Mathematical modelling
• Prediction and verification (or falsification) of theories
• Speculation or Prediction
• Science will be not having any final theory. The observations
which are made using improved, accurate tools will be creating
improved knowledge and perspective. Tycho Brahe’s research on
planetary motion has been used by Johannes Kepler for improving
Nicolas Copernicus theory.
• Quantum mechanics was developed in order to deal with atomic
and nuclear phenomena. Work of Ernest Rutherford on nuclear
model of atom made the basis of quantum theory suggested by
Niels Bohr. The discovery of antielectron (positron) was led by
the Antiparticle theory of Paul Dirac by Carl Anderson.
Natural Sciences
Natural science can be considered as a branch of science which is
discussing about the description, prediction, and understanding of the
natural phenomena which is on the basis of an observational and
empirical evidence. It will be included of the disciplines mentioned
below:
• Physics

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• Chemistry
• Biology

Physics
Physics can be defined as a study of basic laws of nature and their usage
in various natural phenomena. Physics can be called as the study of
physical world and matter and its movement through space and time,
along with the connected concepts like energy and force.
• Word Physics has been originated from a Greek word phusikḗ
which means nature.
• There are two principal kinds of approaches in Physics which are
listed below:
1. Unification: This is a method including all of the phenomena in the
world in the form of a group of universal laws in various domains and
conditions. The law of gravitation will be applied both on a falling apple
from a tree and the movement of planets around the sun can be
considered as examples. Every electric and magnetic phenomena will be
controlled by Electromagnetism laws.
2. Reduction is a method for deriving characteristics of complex systems
from the properties and interaction of its constituent parts. We can take
an example that the temperature studied under thermodynamics can be
also connected to the average kinetic energy of molecules in a system
(kinetic theory).
Effect and uses of Physics:
• We can describe a phenomena occurring over a bigger magnitude
using a simple theory.
• We can use the experiments and observations for developing new
theories in the case of unidentified phenomena and make
improvement for old theories in the existing phenomena.
• We can develop devices by the use of physics laws.
Scope of Physics
Scope of Physics will be wide since it covers quantities with length
magnitude as big as 1040m and more than that (astronomical studies of
universe) and as low as 10-14m or less (study of the electrons, protons

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etc). In the same way, the time scale is ranging from 10-22s to 1018s and
mass is ranging from 10-30kg to 1055kg.
Physics can be categorised broadly into two kinds on the basis of its
scope - Classical Physics and Modern Physics. Classical physics is a
branch which is dealing with the macroscopic phenomena while the
modern physics will be dealing with the microscopic phenomena.
Macroscopic Domain
Macroscopic domain is having phenomena’s involved at large scales
such as laboratory, terrestrial and astronomical. It will be including
subjects listed below:
1. Mechanics – This is a branch on the basis of Newton’s laws on motion
and the gravitational laws. It will be related with motion/equilibrium of
particles, rigid and deformable bodies and general system of particles.
Examples are listed below:
a. Propulsion of rocket using the ejecting gases
b. Water or Sound waves
c. Under a load, a bent rod is in equilibrium.

2. Electrodynamics is a branch which is involved with electric and

magnetic phenomena related with charged and magnetic bodies. Here are
some examples for it:
a. Movement of a current-carrying conductor in a magnetic field
b. The response of a circuit to an ac voltage (signal)
c. The generation of radio waves in the ionosphere

3. Optics – This branch is discussing about the natural processes

involving light. The examples will be,
a. Reflection and refraction of light
b. Dispersion of light through a prism
c. Colour shown by thin films

4. Thermodynamics is a branch with systems in macroscopic equilibrium

and varies in internal energy, temperature, entropy and so on , of systems
under the application of the external force or heat. Examples are,
a. The efficiency of heat engines
b. Direction of physical and chemical process

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Microscopic Domain
Microscopic domain will be processed at small scales such as atomic,
molecular and nuclear. It will be discussing about the interaction of
probes such as electrons, photons and other elementary particles.
Quantum theory has been made to discuss these phenomena.
There are some reasons for the improvement of Physics
• Qualitative analysis along with quantitative analysis.
• Universal laws are applicable in various contexts.
• Approximation approach (complex phenomena broken down into
collection of basic laws).
• Extracting and focusing on necessary characteristics of a
phenomenon.
Hypothesis, Axiom and Models
a) Hypothesis can be defined as an act of supposing without assuming
that it is correct. It cannot be proven although can be verified by the use
of a series of experiments.
b) Axiom will be a self-evident truth that it is acceptable by not having
any question or controversy.
c) Model can be defined as a theory put forward for describing the
observed phenomena.
d) Assumption can be defined as the basis of physics. Using this, a huge
number of phenomena are being explained. These assumptions are
created from experiments, observation and a huge number of statistical
data.

Technological applications of Physics

There are numerous examples in which Physics and its concepts paved
the way to inventions as mentioned below.
• Steam engine got invented from the industrial revolution in
eighteenth century.
• Development of wireless communication after the discovery of
laws of electricity and magnetism.
• Neuron-induced fission of uranium, attempted by Hahn and
Meitner in 1938, showed to the formation of nuclear power
reactors and nuclear weapons.
• Electricity has been produced from solar, wind, geothermal etc.

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Fundamental Forces in nature
The forces which is visible in our daily life such as muscular, friction,
forces due to compression and change in length of strings and springs,
fluid and gas pressure, magnetic, electric, interatomic and intermolecular
forces are derived forces since their originations are because of a few
fundamental forces in nature.
These fundamental forces are as mentioned below:
1. Gravitational Force ca be defined as a force of mutual attraction
between any two objects because of their masses. This has been
considered as a universal force since every object is feeling this force
because of every other object in the universe.

2. Electromagnetic Force can be called as a force existing between

charged particles. Charges at rest is having electric attraction which is
visible between unlike charges and repulsion which is between like
charges. Charges in motion will be creating magnetic force. Together
they are known as Electromagnetic Force.

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3. Strong Nuclear Force is an attractive force found in between protons
and neutrons in a nucleus. It is charge-independent and is acting equally
between a proton and a proton, a neutron and a neutron, and a proton and
a neutron. According to the latest discoveries, the protons and neutrons
are made up of elementary particles known as quarks.

4. Weak Nuclear Force can be defined as a force which appear only in

specific nuclear processes like the β-decay of a nucleus. In β-decay, the
nucleus will be emitting an electron and an uncharged particle called
known as neutrino. In 1931, this particle has been predicted for the first
time by Wolfgang Pauli.

Table drawn below is representing the difference between the above

forces.
Name Relative Range Operates
Strength among
Gravitational 10−39 Infinite All objects in
force the universe
Weak nuclear 10−13 Very short, Some
force Sub-nuclear elementary
size ( −10 −16 m) particles,

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 particularly
electron and
neutrino
Electromagnetic 10−2 Infinite Charged
force particles
Strong nuclear 1 Short, nuclear Nucleons,
force size ( −10 −15 m) heavier
elementary
particles

5. Unification of Forces: So many physicists tried for combining a few of

the above fundamental forces. It has been shown in a table below.
Name of physicist Year Achievement in
Unification
Isaac Newton 1687 The celestial and
terrestrial mechanics
were unified.
Hans Christian 1820 and 1830 Electric and magnetic
Oersted and Michael respectively phenomena were unified
Faraday to give rise to
electromagnetism.
James Clerk Maxwell 1873 Electricity, magnetism
and optics were unified
for representing that
light is an
electromagnetic wave.
Sheldon Glashow, 1979 Put forward the idea of
Abdus Salam, Steven electro-weak force
Weinberg which is a combination
of electromagnetic and
weak nuclear force.
Carlo Rubia, Simon 1984 The theory of electro-
Vander Meer weak force was verified.

Conserved Quantities
Physics has been provided laws for summarising the investigations and
observations about the phenomena happening in the universe.

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• Physical quantities will be held fixed with time can be defined as
conserved quantities. In the case of a body under external force,
the kinetic and potential energy will be varying over time but the
total mechanical energy (kinetic + potential) will be a constant.
• Conserved quantities will be scalar (Energy) or vector (Total
linear momentum and total angular momentum)

Conservation Laws
A conservation law can be defined as a hypothesis on the basis of
observation and experiments which is not able to be proven. These are
verifiable through experiments.

Law of conservation of Energy

• In accordance to the general Law of conservation of energy, the
energies will be fixed over time and get transformed from one
form to another.
• The law of conservation of energy will be applied to the whole
universe and it has been considered that the total energy of the
universe is fixed.
• The nature develops symmetric results at different time under
similar conditions.

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Law of conservation of Mass
It can be defined as a principle which is usable in the analysis of
chemical reactions.
• Basically a chemical reaction can be defined as a rearrangement of
atoms among various molecules.
• The difference will be formed as heat and the reaction is
exothermic when the total binding energy of the reacting
molecules will be less than the total binding energy of the product
molecules.
• The opposite will be correct for energy absorbing reactions such
as endothermic reactions.
• As the atoms are not destroyed, only just rearranged, the
summation of mass of the reactants will be identical as the total
mass of the products in a chemical reaction.
• Mass will be in relation to energy through Einstein theory,
E=mc 2 , where c will be the speed of light in vacuum.

Law of conservation of linear momentum

• Law of conservation of linear momentum can be defined as the
symmetry of laws of nature with respect to translation in space.
• The law of gravitation is exactly identical on earth and moon even
th
1
when the acceleration due to gravity at moon is than that at
6
earth.

Law of conservation of angular momentum

• Isotropy of space which means that no intrinsically preferred
direction in space specifies the law of conservation of angular
momentum.

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