List Of Physics Scientists And Their Inventions

Mechanics & Motion - Related Topics

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Analog Electronics
8

Analog electronics is a branch of electronics that deals with continuous signals, as opposed to digital electronics, which deals with discrete sign...

Magnetostatics Definition Properties Differences
4051

In magnetostatics, boundary conditions are used to describe the behavior of magnetic fields at the interfaces between different materials. These co...

Aberration Of Lens
4054

Lens aberration is a phenomenon that occurs when light rays passing through a lens do not converge at a single point, resulting in a distorted or i...

Absorption Spectrum
4055

An absorption spectrum is a graph that shows the amount of light absorbed by a substance as a function of the wavelength of light. It is a characte...

AC Circuit
4056

An alternating current (AC) circuit is a circuit in which the current periodically reverses direction. This is in contrast to a direct current (DC)...

AC Motor
4057

An AC motor is an electric motor that converts alternating current (AC) into mechanical energy. AC motors are widely used in industrial and commerc...

Acceleration Time Graph
4058

An acceleration time graph is a graphical representation of the acceleration of an object over time. It is a useful tool for analyzing the motion o...

Acoustics
4059

Acoustics is the science that deals with the production, control, transmission, reception, and effects of sound. It is a branch of physics that stu...

Adiabatic Demagnetization
4060

Paramagnetic materials are a class of materials that exhibit a weak attraction to magnetic fields. This attraction is caused by the presence of unp...

Advanced Sunrise And Delayed Sunset
4061

The rising and setting of the sun are daily phenomena that mark the beginning and end of each day. While we generally think of these events as occu...

Ammeter
4062

An ammeter is a measuring instrument used to measure the strength of an electric current in amperes. It is a device that allows the user to determi...

Anemometer
4064

An anemometer is a device used to measure wind speed and direction. It is commonly used in meteorology, climatology, and other fields that require ...

Angular Acceleration
4065

Angular acceleration is the rate at which an object's angular velocity changes. It is measured in radians per second squared (rad/s²).

Dynamic Lift
4067

Dynamic lift is a phenomenon that occurs when an object moves through a fluid, such as air or water. It is the force that acts perpendicular to the...

Layers Of Sun
4067

The Sun, our closest star, is a hot ball of glowing gases that emits vast amounts of energy. It consists of several layers, each with its unique ch...

LCR Series Circuit
4068

An LCR series circuit is a circuit that consists of an inductor (L), a capacitor (C), and a resistor (R) connected in series. The current in an LCR...

Effects Of Radiation
4069

Radiation is the emission or transmission of energy in the form of waves or particles. It can be classified into two main types: ionizing and non-i...

Lemon Battery
4069

A lemon battery is a simple electrochemical cell that uses a lemon as the electrolyte. It is a fun and easy way to demonstrate the principles of el...

Limitations Of Ohms Law
4072

Ohm's law is a fundamental principle in electrical engineering and physics that describes the relationship between voltage, current, and resistance...

Power Factor
4074

Power factor is a measure of how efficiently electrical power is used in an alternating current (AC) circuit. It is defined as the ratio of the rea...

Power In Ac Circuit
4075

In an alternating current (AC) circuit containing a pure resistor, the current and voltage are in phase, meaning they reach their maximum and minim...

Power Transformers
4076

Power transformers are essential components of electrical power systems, enabling the efficient transmission and distribution of electricity. Their...

Pressure Gauge
4077

A pressure gauge is a device used to measure the pressure of a fluid (liquid or gas) or gas. It is typically used in industrial and commercial sett...

Pressure Of An Ideal Gas
4078

The ideal gas law is a fundamental equation in physics that describes the behavior of gases under various conditions. It provides a mathematical re...

Pressure
4079

Pressure is a physical quantity that measures the force applied perpendicular to the surface of an object per unit area. It is a scalar quantity, m...

Principle Of Calorimetry
4080

A calorimeter is a device used to measure the amount of heat released or absorbed during a chemical reaction or physical change. It is an essential...

Electrolytic Capacitor
4081

Electrolytic capacitors are polarized capacitors that use an electrolytic solution as one of the plates. They are typically made of aluminum or tan...

Propagation Constant
4081

The propagation constant is a complex number that describes how a wave propagates through a medium. It is defined as the square root of the product...

Proton Mass
4083

The proton is a subatomic particle that is found in the nucleus of an atom. It is one of the three main types of subatomic particles, along with th...

Electron Spin
4084

Electron spin is a fundamental property of electrons, which is related to their intrinsic angular momentum. It is a vector quantity and can be eith...

Pulley System
4084

A pulley system is a mechanical device that consists of one or more pulleys and a rope or cable that runs through them. Pulleys are used to lift or...

Electronic Communication Systems
4085

A communication system is a collection of components that allows information to be transmitted from one place to another. In electronics, communica...

Pulse Width Modulation
4085

Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) is a technique used to control the power delivered to a load by varying the width of the pulses of a periodic waveform...

Electroscope
4086

An electroscope is a simple device used to detect the presence and type of electric charge. It consists of a metal rod with a small, lightweight ob...

Quantization
4086

Quantization is a process of converting a continuous signal into a discrete signal. This is done by dividing the continuous signal into a finite nu...

Electrostatic Precipitator
4087

An electrostatic precipitator (ESP) is a device that removes particulate matter from a gas stream by applying an electrical charge to the particles...

Electrostatics
4088

In electrostatics, boundary conditions are the conditions that must be satisfied by the electric field and the electric potential at the boundaries...

Radiation Pressure
4089

Radiation pressure is the force exerted on an object by electromagnetic radiation. It is a real and measurable force, although it is usually very s...

Radiation
4090

Radiation is the emission or transmission of energy in the form of waves or particles. It can be classified into two types: ionizing and non-ionizing.

Radioactivity
4091

Radioactivity is the process by which unstable atoms lose energy by emitting radiation in the form of particles or electromagnetic waves. This proc...

Faraday Constant
4092

The Faraday constant, denoted by the symbol F, is a fundamental physical constant that relates the charge of one mole of electrons to the amount of...

Radius Of Gyration
4092

The radius of gyration is a measure of the distribution of mass within an object. It is defined as the distance from the object's center of mass to...

Ferromagnetism
4093

Ferromagnetic materials are a class of materials that exhibit strong magnetic properties due to the alignment of their atomic magnetic moments. The...

Raman Scattering
4093

Raman scattering is a spectroscopic technique used to study vibrational, rotational, and other low-frequency modes in a system. It is based on the ...

Rare Earth Magnets
4094

Rare earth magnets are a class of permanent magnets made from alloys of rare earth elements. They are the most powerful type of permanent magnet, a...

Force Between Multiple Charges
4095

The magnitude of the electrostatic force between two point charges is given by Coulomb's law:

Force
4096

Force is a physical quantity that describes an interaction that can change the motion of an object. It is measured in newtons (N) in the Internatio...

Reactance And Impedance
4096

Reactance and impedance are two important concepts in electrical engineering. They are used to describe the behavior of electrical circuits when al...

Rectifier
4097

A rectifier is an electrical device that converts alternating current (AC) into direct current (DC). The process of converting AC to DC is known as...

Friction
4098

Friction is the force that opposes the relative motion of two objects in contact. It is a fundamental force in nature that affects everything from ...

Frictional Force
4099

Frictional force is the force that opposes the relative motion of two objects in contact. It is a non-conservative force, meaning that the work don...

Galilean Transformation
4100

The Galilean transformation is a mathematical transformation that describes the relationship between the coordinates of an object in two different ...

Refractive Index
4100

The refractive index of a material is a measure of how much light bends when passing through it. It is defined as the ratio of the speed of light i...

Gauge
4101

A gauge is a type of meter that measures the magnitude of a physical quantity. Gauges are used in a wide variety of applications, including measuri...

Refrigeration
4101

Refrigeration is the process of removing heat from a substance or space, resulting in a lower temperature. It is used in a wide range of applicatio...

Geiger Counter
4102

A Geiger counter is a device used to detect and measure ionizing radiation, such as gamma rays and X-rays. It is named after the German physicist H...

Relation Between Amplitude And Frequency
4102

In physics, amplitude and frequency are two fundamental properties of a periodic wave. Amplitude refers to the maximum displacement of a wave from ...

Relation Between Bar And Atm
4103

Pressure is a physical quantity that measures the force applied perpendicular to the surface of an object per unit area. It is a scalar quantity, m...

Hall Effect
4104

The Hall effect is the production of a voltage difference (the Hall voltage) across a conductor, usually a metal, when it is subjected to a magneti...

Relation Between Beta And Gamma Function
4104

The Beta function and the Gamma function are two closely related special functions that play a fundamental role in various areas of mathematics, st...

Halleys Comet
4105

Halley's Comet is a bright comet that orbits the Sun every 75 to 76 years. It is one of the most famous comets in history and has been observed by ...

Relation Between Critical Angle And Refractive Index
4105

The critical angle, also known as the limiting angle, is a crucial concept in the field of optics, particularly in the study of light refraction an...

Harmonic Oscillator
4106

A harmonic oscillator is a system that, when displaced from its equilibrium position, experiences a restoring force proportional to the displacemen...

Relation Between Escape Velocity And Orbital Velocity
4107

Escape velocity is the minimum speed an object needs to escape the gravitational pull of a massive body, such as a planet or moon. Once an object r...

Relation Between Kp And Kc
4108

In chemistry, $Kp$ refers to the equilibrium constant for a chemical reaction expressed in terms of partial pressures of the gaseous reactants and ...

Relation Between Newton And Dyne
4109

English mathematician and physicist who is widely credited as one of the most influential scientists of all time.

Humidity
4110

Humidity refers to the amount of water vapor present in the air. It is an essential component of the Earth's atmosphere and plays a crucial role in...

Relation Between Pressure And Density
4110

Pressure and density are two fundamental properties of matter that are closely related. Pressure is the force per unit area exerted by a substance,...

Huygens Principle
4111

Huygens' principle is a method for understanding how waves propagate. It was developed by the Dutch scientist Christiaan Huygens in the 17th centur...

Relation Between Youngs Modulus And Bulk Modulus
4111

Young's modulus, also known as the modulus of elasticity, is a measure of the stiffness of a material. It is defined as the ratio of the stress (fo...

Relative Humidity
4112

Relative humidity (RH) is a measure of the amount of water vapor present in the air compared to the maximum amount of water vapor the air can hold ...

Hydrostatic Pressure
4113

Hydrostatic pressure is the pressure exerted by a fluid at rest due to the force of gravity. It is a scalar quantity and is measured in pascals (Pa...

Resistivity
4113

Resistivity is a measure of how strongly a material opposes the flow of electric current. It is defined as the electrical resistance of a material ...

Hysteresis
4114

A hysteresis loop is a graphical representation of the relationship between the magnetic field strength (H) and the magnetization (M) of a material...

Resistor
4114

A resistor is a passive two-terminal electrical component that implements electrical resistance as a circuit element. In electronic circuits, resis...

Infrared Radiation
4115

Infrared radiation (IR) is a type of electromagnetic radiation that is invisible to the human eye. It is located on the electromagnetic spectrum be...

Resolving Power
4115

Resolving power is the ability of an optical instrument to distinguish between two closely spaced objects. It is usually measured in terms of the m...

Integrated Circuit
4116

An integrated circuit (IC), also known as a chip or microchip, is a small electronic circuit made of semiconductor material that has been fabricate...

Resonance
4116

Resonance is a phenomenon that occurs when a system is subjected to a periodic force that matches its natural frequency of vibration. This causes t...

Reverberation
4117

Reverberation is the persistence of sound in a space after the sound source has stopped. It is caused by the reflection of sound waves off surfaces...

International Space Station
4118

The International Space Station (ISS) is a modular space station in low Earth orbit. It is a joint project of five participating space agencies: NA...

Rheostat
4118

A rheostat is a variable resistor used to control the flow of electric current. It consists of a resistive element, usually a wire, and a sliding c...

Ionizing Radiation
4119

Ionizing radiation is a type of high-energy radiation that has enough energy to remove tightly bound electrons from atoms, resulting in the formati...

Satellite Communication
4119

Satellite communication is a type of wireless communication that uses satellites to relay signals between two or more points on Earth. It is used f...

Isothermal Process
4120

An isothermal process is a thermodynamic process in which the temperature of the system remains constant. This means that the internal energy of th...

Scintillation Counter
4120

A scintillation counter is a device used to detect and measure ionizing radiation. It consists of a scintillator, a photomultiplier tube (PMT), and...

James Webb Space Telescope
4121

The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) is a space telescope under construction and development by NASA, the European Space Agency (ESA) and the Cana...

Seebeck Effect
4121

The Seebeck effect is the conversion of temperature differences directly into electrical energy. It is named after the German physicist Thomas Joha...

Junction Field Effect Transistor
4122

A Junction Field-Effect Transistor (JFET) is a type of field-effect transistor that uses a semiconductor junction to control the flow of current. J...

Seismograph
4122

A seismograph is a device that records the motion of the ground during an earthquake. The first seismographs were invented in China in the 2nd cent...

Junction Transistor
4123

A junction transistor is a semiconductor device that acts as an electronic switch or an amplifier. It is made of three layers of semiconductor mate...

Sharpness Of Resonance
4123

Resonance is a phenomenon that occurs when a system is subjected to a periodic force whose frequency is equal to or close to the system's natural f...

Shear Stress
4124

Shear stress is the force per unit area that acts parallel to the surface of a material and causes it to deform. It is expressed in units of pascal...

Kinetic Friction
4125

Kinetic friction is the force that opposes the motion of an object when it is in contact with another surface and moving relative to that surface. ...

Lambert Cosine Law
4126

Lambert's Cosine Law, also known as the cosine emission law, describes the relationship between the intensity of light emitted by a surface and the...

Sliding Friction
4126

Sliding friction is the force that opposes the relative motion of two solid surfaces in contact. It is a type of kinetic friction, which is the for...

Laplace Correction
4127

Laplace correction is a technique used in probability theory and statistics to adjust the probabilities of events in order to account for the fact ...

Solar Eclipse
4127

A solar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes between the Sun and Earth, and the Moon's shadow falls on Earth's surface. Solar eclipses are rare even...

Laser Diode
4128

A laser diode is a semiconductor device that emits coherent light when an electric current is passed through it. Laser diodes are used in a wide va...

Solenoid Engine
4128

A solenoid is an electromechanical device that converts electrical energy into mechanical energy. It consists of a coil of wire wrapped around a me...

Laser
4129

A laser is a device that emits light through a process called stimulated emission. The term "laser" originated as an acronym for "light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation".

Solenoid
4129

A solenoid is an electromechanical device that converts electrical energy into mechanical energy. It consists of a coil of wire wrapped around a me...

Millikan Oil Drop Experiment
4130

The Millikan oil drop experiment was a series of experiments conducted by Robert Millikan and Harvey Fletcher between 1909 and 1913. The experiment...

Solid State Physics
4130

Solid-state physics is the study of the physical properties of solids, including their electronic structure, thermal properties, mechanical propert...

Sonication
4131

Sonification is the process of converting data into sound. This can be done for a variety of purposes, such as:

Moon
4132

The Moon is the fifth largest moon in the Solar System and the largest in our own. It is a natural satellite of Earth, orbiting it at an average di...

Sonometer
4132

A sonometer is a scientific instrument used to measure the frequency of sound waves. It consists of a stretched string, a fixed pulley, a movable p...

Motion In A Plane
4133

Motion in a plane is the movement of an object in two dimensions. It can be described by the object's position, velocity, and acceleration.

Murphys Law
4134

Murphy's Law is a popular adage that states that "anything that can go wrong, will go wrong." It is often used to describe the unexpected and often pessimistic nature of real-world situations.

Navier Stokes Equation
4135

The Navier-Stokes equations are a set of partial differential equations that describe the motion of viscous fluids. They are named after the French...

Special Theory Of Relativity
4135

The Special Theory of Relativity, proposed by Albert Einstein in 1905, is a fundamental theory in physics that describes the relationship between s...

Specific Gravity
4136

Specific gravity is a measure of the density of a substance relative to the density of water. It is defined as the ratio of the density of a substa...

Newtons Law Of Viscosity
4137

Viscosity is a property of fluids that describes their resistance to flow. It is caused by the interaction of the molecules in the fluid, which col...

Newtons Second Law Of Motion
4138

Newton's Second Law of Motion is a fundamental principle in classical mechanics that describes the relationship between an object's mass, accelerat...

Speed And Velocity
4138

Speed is a measure of how fast an object is moving. It is calculated by dividing the distance traveled by the time taken to travel that distance. S...

Newton's Third Law Of Motion
4139

Complete guide to Newton's third law including action-reaction pairs, applications, examples, rocket propulsion for NEET physics

Normal Force
4140

In physics, the normal force is the force exerted by a surface on an object in contact with it, perpendicular to the surface. It is also known as t...

Nuclear Force
4141

Nuclear force is the force that holds protons and neutrons together inside an atomic nucleus. It is one of the four fundamental forces in nature, a...

Optical Bench
4143

An optical bench is a stable platform used to hold and align optical components, such as lenses, mirrors, and prisms, in a precise and repeatable m...

Paramagnetism
4144

Paramagnetism is a form of magnetism that occurs when certain materials are exposed to an external magnetic field. These materials, known as parama...

Pendulum
4145

A pendulum is a weight suspended from a pivot so that it can swing freely. When the pendulum is displaced from its equilibrium position, it will os...

Periscope
4146

Periscope is a live video streaming app that allows users to broadcast live video to their followers. It was launched in 2015 and was acquired by T...

Angular Momentum Of Electron
4152

In quantum mechanics, the angular momentum of an electron is a fundamental property that describes the electron's rotational motion. It is a vector...

Angular Velocity
4153

Angular velocity is a measure of how fast an object is rotating. It is defined as the rate of change of the angular displacement of an object with ...

Antimatter
4154

Antimatter is a type of matter that is composed of antiparticles, which are the opposite of their corresponding particles. For example, the antipar...

Average Speed
4155

Average speed is the total distance traveled divided by the total time taken to travel that distance. It is a measure of how fast an object is movi...

Avogadro Hypothesis
4156

Avogadro's Hypothesis states that under the same conditions of temperature and pressure, equal volumes of gases contain an equal number of molecule...

Balanced Force
4157

A balanced force occurs when the net force acting on an object is zero. This means that the forces acting on the object are equal in magnitude and ...

Ballistics
4158

Ballistics is the science of the motion of projectiles. It is a branch of physics that deals with the behavior of projectiles in flight, including ...

Band Theory Of Solids
4159

The band theory of solids is a fundamental concept in solid-state physics that describes the electronic structure of materials. It provides a frame...

Bar Magnet As An Equivalent Solenoid
4160

A bar magnet can be considered as an equivalent solenoid, which is a coil of wire that carries an electric current and creates a magnetic field. Th...

Barometer
4161

A barometer is a scientific instrument used to measure atmospheric pressure. It is a device that measures the weight of the air above a given point...

Bells Theorem
4162

Bell's theorem is a no-go theorem in quantum mechanics that states that no physical theory can reproduce all the predictions of quantum mechanics w...

Bernoullis Principle
4163

Bernoulli's principle is a fundamental principle in fluid dynamics that describes the relationship between fluid velocity, pressure, and height. It...

Bipolar Junction Transistor
4164

A bipolar junction transistor (BJT) is a three-terminal electronic device that acts as an amplifier or switch. It is made of semiconductor material...

Black Body Radiation
4165

Black body radiation refers to the electromagnetic radiation emitted by an ideal black body. A black body is a theoretical concept that absorbs all...

Boltzmann Constant
4166

The Boltzmann constant, denoted by the symbol $kB$, is a fundamental physical constant that relates the average kinetic energy of particles in a sy...

Braille
4167

Braille is a tactile writing and reading system used by blind and visually impaired people. It was invented by Louis Braille, a blind Frenchman, in...

Buoyant Force
4168

Buoyant force is an upward force exerted by a fluid that opposes the weight of a partially or fully immersed object. In other words, it is the upwa...

Calorimeter
4169

A calorimeter is a device used to measure the heat involved in a chemical reaction or physical change. It is typically made of metal and is insulat...

Centre Of Mass And Centre Of Gravity
4170

The centre of mass of an object is the point where all of its mass is evenly distributed. It is also known as the centroid or the geometric centre.

Centripetal Force
4171

Centripetal force is the net force that acts on an object moving in a circular path, pulling it toward the center of the circle. It is directed tow...

Charge Transfer
4173

Charge transfer is the movement of electrons from one atom or molecule to another. It is a fundamental process in chemistry and biology, and it pla...

Charging By Induction
4174

Induction charging is a method of wirelessly transferring electrical energy between two objects. It is based on the principle of electromagnetic in...

Cherenkov Radiation
4175

Cherenkov radiation is a unique and fascinating optical phenomenon that occurs when a charged particle moves through a medium at a speed greater th...

Circuit Breakers
4176

A circuit breaker is a protective device that automatically switches off an electrical circuit when the current exceeds a safe level. This prevents...

Circuit Components
4177

An electric circuit is a path that allows electricity to flow. It consists of a source of electrical energy, such as a battery, and a load, such as...

Clausius Statement
4178

The Clausius statement of the second law of thermodynamics is one of the fundamental principles of thermodynamics. It states that heat cannot spont...

Coherent Sources
4179

In physics, a coherent source is a source of waves that have a constant phase relationship with each other. This means that the waves from a cohere...

Collision
4180

Collisions occur when two or more objects come into contact with each other. There are different types of collisions, each with its own characteris...

Commutator
4181

A commutator is a mechanical device used in direct current (DC) motors and generators to reverse the direction of current flow in the armature wind...

Compound Microscope
4182

A compound microscope is a type of microscope that uses two or more lenses to produce a magnified image of a specimen. The objective lens, which is...

Concave Lens
4184

A concave lens, also known as a diverging lens, is a type of lens that causes light rays to diverge (spread out) after passing through it. Unlike a...

Conductor And Insulator
4185

Conductors and insulators are two important concepts in the field of electricity. Conductors are materials that allow electricity to flow through t...

Conservative Force
4187

A conservative force is a force that does work on an object that depends only on the initial and final positions of the object and not on the path ...

Constellations
4188

A constellation is a group of stars that form a recognizable pattern in the night sky. Constellations have been used for centuries by astronomers t...

Convex Mirror
4189

A convex mirror is a curved mirror with a reflecting surface that bulges outward. It is also known as a diverging mirror because it causes light ra...

Cyclic Process
4191

A cyclic process is a process that repeats itself over and over again. It is a closed loop, with no beginning or end. Cyclic processes are found in...

Cyclotron
4192

A cyclotron is a type of particle accelerator that uses a strong magnetic field to accelerate charged particles in a circular path. It was invented...

Davisson Germer Experiment
4193

The Davisson-Germer experiment was a landmark experiment in physics that demonstrated the wave-particle duality of matter. It was conducted by Clin...

DC Generator
4194

A DC generator is an electrical machine that converts mechanical energy into direct current (DC) electrical energy. It is based on the principle of...

Decibel
4195

A decibel (dB) is a unit of measurement used to express the relative intensity of a sound. It is a logarithmic unit, which means that it expresses ...

Delta Modulation
4196

Delta modulation (DM) is a simple form of analog-to-digital conversion (ADC) that uses a one-bit quantizer to represent the difference between the ...

Derivation Of Equation Of Motion
4197

The equation of motion is a fundamental concept in physics that describes the behavior of objects in motion. It provides a mathematical framework t...

Derivation Of Lorentz Transformation
4198

The Lorentz transformation is a mathematical transformation that describes how space and time are related in special relativity. It was developed b...

Derivation Of Potential Energy
4199

Complete guide to potential energy derivation including gravitational potential energy, elastic potential energy, chemical potential energy, formula for NEET physics

Derivation Of Prism Formula
4200

The prism formula is an equation that describes the angle of deviation of a light ray passing through a prism. It is given by:

Deuterium
4201

Deuterium is a naturally occurring isotope of hydrogen with a nucleus containing one proton and one neutron, making it twice as heavy as the most c...

Diamagnetism
4202

Diamagnetism is a form of magnetism that occurs in all materials, but it is usually very weak. It is caused by the orbital motion of electrons in r...

Difference Between Centre Of Gravity And Centroid
4206

The centre of gravity (CG), also known as the centre of mass, is the point where all the mass of an object is considered to be concentrated. It is ...

Difference Between Echo And Reverberation
4207

Sound waves are mechanical waves that travel through a medium, such as air, water, or solids. They are caused by the vibration of particles in the ...

Difference Between Emission And Absorption Spectra
4208

Atomic spectra are the characteristic patterns of electromagnetic radiation emitted or absorbed by atoms. They are caused by the transitions of ele...

Difference Between Kinetics And Kinematics
4210

Kinetics is the branch of physical chemistry that deals with the rates of chemical reactions. It is a fundamental science that has applications in ...

Difference Between Mirror And Lens
4211

A mirror is a reflective surface, usually made of glass with a metallic coating, that reflects light and images. Mirrors are used to see reflection...

Difference Between Real Image And Virtual Image
4212

A real image is an image that is formed by the convergence of light rays. It can be projected onto a surface, such as a screen or a wall. Real imag...

Difference Between RTD And Thermocouple
4213

RTD stands for Resistance Temperature Detector. It is a temperature sensor that uses the principle of resistance change with temperature to measure...

Difference Between Simple And Compound Microscope
4214

A simple microscope, also known as a magnifying glass, is a basic optical instrument that produces magnified images of small objects. It consists o...

Difference Between Solar Eclipse And Lunar Eclipse
4215

A solar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes between the Sun and Earth, and the Moon's shadow falls on Earth. This can only happen during a new moon...

Differences Between Acceleration And Velocity
4217

In physics, motion is a fundamental concept that describes the change in position of an object over time. Two key concepts related to motion are ve...

Differences Between Enthalpy And Entropy
4218

Enthalpy is a thermodynamic property that measures the total energy of a system, including its internal energy and the energy associated with its p...

Diode As A Rectifier
4219

A diode is a two-terminal electronic component that allows current to flow in only one direction. This property makes diodes useful for a variety o...

Magnet
4368

A magnet is a material or object that produces a magnetic field. This magnetic field is invisible, but it can be detected by its effects on other m...

Manometer
4374

A manometer is a device used to measure pressure in a fluid, typically a gas or liquid. It consists of a vertical tube with one end open to the atm...

Mass Of Deuteron
4375

A deuteron is a stable isotope of hydrogen with a nucleus containing one proton and one neutron, bound together by the strong nuclear force. It is ...

Mean Free Path
4376

The mean free path of a particle is the average distance it travels before undergoing a collision with another particle. It is an important concept...

Permanent Magnet
4377

A permanent magnet is a material or object that produces its own magnetic field without the need for an electric current. The magnetic field of a p...

Perpetual Motion
4378

Perpetual motion is the idea of a machine that can operate indefinitely without an external energy source. This concept has fascinated inventors an...

Photon
4380

A photon is an elementary particle that is the quantum of light and all other forms of electromagnetic radiation. It is the basic unit of light and...

Photovoltaic Cell
4381

A photovoltaic (PV) cell, also known as a solar cell, is a device that converts light energy into electrical energy. The process of converting ligh...

Pin Diode
4383

A PIN diode is a type of semiconductor diode that has a wide, intrinsic semiconductor region between its p-type and n-type regions. This intrinsic ...

Plane Mirror
4384

A plane mirror is a flat, reflective surface that produces an image of an object by reflecting light rays. It is also known as a flat mirror or a l...

PN Junction Diode
4385

A PN junction diode is a semiconductor device that allows current to flow in one direction only. It is made by joining two pieces of semiconductor ...

Poissons Ratio
4386

Poisson's ratio is a measure of a material's tendency to deform in one direction when subjected to stress in another direction. It is defined as th...

Spherometer
4387

A spherometer is a device used to measure the radius of curvature of a spherical surface. It consists of a metal base with a micrometer screw attac...

Sphygmomanometer
4388

A sphygmomanometer is a device used to measure blood pressure. It consists of an inflatable cuff wrapped around the upper arm, connected to a manom...

Stars
4390

A star is a luminous ball of gas, mostly hydrogen and helium, that produces its own light and heat through nuclear fusion reactions in its core. St...

Static Friction
4391

Static friction is the force that opposes the movement of two objects in contact with each other when they are not moving relative to each other. I...

Statistical Mechanics
4392

Statistical mechanics is a branch of physics that uses probability theory to describe the macroscopic properties of large systems of particles. It ...

String Theory
4393

String theory is a branch of theoretical physics that proposes that the point-like particles of particle physics are not actually points, but rathe...

Synchrotron
4395

A synchrotron is a type of particle accelerator that uses electromagnetic fields to propel charged particles to high speeds and energies. Synchrotr...

Tension Force
4396

Tension force is a pulling force that acts along the length of an object, tending to stretch or elongate it. It is not one of the four fundamental ...

Terminal Velocity
4397

Terminal velocity is the constant speed at which an object falls through a fluid (such as air or water) when the resistance of the fluid to the obj...

The International System Of Units
4398

The Seven Defining Constants are a set of fundamental physical constants that are used to describe the universe. They are:

Thermal Diffusivity
4399

Thermal diffusivity is a measure of how quickly heat flows through a material. It is defined as the ratio of the thermal conductivity to the heat c...

Thermal Expansion
4401

Thermal expansion is the phenomenon in which the dimensions of a solid object increase when its temperature is raised. This is due to the increased...

Thermal Stress
4402

Thermal stress is a type of mechanical stress that occurs due to a difference in temperature within a material or between two materials in contact....

Joule’s Law
4987

In 1840, a British scientist named James Prescott Joule found out that the heat generated in an electric circuit is directly related to the circuit...

Magnetic Lines Of Force
4988

Magnetic lines of force are a way of visualizing the magnetic field around a magnet. They are imaginary lines that show the direction and strength ...

Micrometer
4990

A micrometer, also known as a micrometer screw gauge or simply a micrometer, is a device used for precise measurement of small distances. It is a v...

Timbre
4991

Timbre is a perceptual attribute of sound that allows us to distinguish between different sounds, even when they have the same pitch and loudness. ...

Time Dilation Length Contraction Relative Speed
4992

Time dilation is a phenomenon in which time appears to pass more slowly for an observer in relative motion than for an observer at rest. This is a ...

Toric Lens
4993

A toric lens is a type of contact lens or intraocular lens (IOL) that corrects astigmatism, a condition in which the cornea or lens of the eye is n...

Torque On A Dipole
4994

Torque is a measure of the twisting force applied to an object. It is defined as the product of the force applied to an object and the perpendicula...

Total Internal Reflection
4995

Total internal reflection (TIR) is a phenomenon that occurs when light traveling in a denser medium strikes a boundary with a less dense medium at ...

Transducer
4996

A transducer is a device that converts one form of energy into another. Transducers are used in a wide variety of applications, including:

Transistor
4997

A transistor is a semiconductor device that acts as a switch or an amplifier. It is made of three layers of semiconductor material, with the middle...

Translatory Motion
4998

Translatory motion is a type of motion in which an object moves from one place to another without rotating about an axis. In other words, it is a m...

Translucent Materials
4999

Translucent materials are those that allow light to pass through them, but not in a clear and distinct way. They scatter light, making it difficult...

Types Of Battery
5002

Batteries are devices that store chemical energy and convert it into electrical energy. They are used in a wide variety of applications, from small...

Types Of Cables
5003

A cable is a flexible structure made of one or more strands of wire, rope, or other flexible material. Cables are used to transmit electrical power...

Types Of Connectors
5004

Connectors are devices or components that establish a connection between two or more systems, devices, or networks. They facilitate the exchange of...

Types Of DC Motors
5005

DC motors are classified into various types based on their construction, winding, and commutation methods. Each type has its unique characteristics...

Types Of Motion
5006

Motion is the change in the position of an object over time. There are different types of motion, each with its own characteristics.

Types Of Motors
5007

Motors are devices that convert electrical energy into mechanical energy. They are used in a wide variety of applications, from small appliances to...

Types Of Radiation
5008

Radiation is the emission or transmission of energy in the form of waves or particles. There are different types of radiation, each with its own ch...

Types Of Resistors
5009

Resistors are passive electronic components that impede the flow of electric current by introducing resistance. They are used in a wide range of el...

Types Of Switches
5010

Switches are devices used to control the flow of electricity in a circuit. They can be classified into various types based on their construction, o...

Uniform Circular Motion
5011

Uniform circular motion is the motion of an object moving at a constant speed along a circular path. The object's velocity is constantly changing d...

Unit Of Resistance
5012

A unit of resistance is a measure that impedes the flow of electric current. The most common type of unit of resistance is the ohm, which is a unit...

Units And Measurements
5013

In science, a unit is a standard quantity used to measure other quantities of the same kind. Units are essential for communication and comparison o...

Uses Of Optical Fibre
5014

Optical fibres are thin, flexible strands of glass or plastic that transmit light signals over long distances. They are used in a wide variety of a...

Uses Of Transformer
5015

Transformers are electrical devices that transfer electrical energy from one circuit to another through inductively coupled conductors—the transfor...

Uses Of Zener Diode
5016

A Zener diode is a type of semiconductor diode that exhibits a sharp increase in reverse voltage when it reaches a certain threshold voltage, known...

Variable Star
5017

A variable star is a star whose brightness varies over time. This variation in brightness can be caused by a number of factors, including:

Velocity Selector
5018

A velocity selector is a device that selects charged particles based on their velocity. It is used in various applications, such as mass spectromet...

Velocity Time Graphs
5019

A velocity-time graph is a graphical representation of the velocity of an object as a function of time. It is a useful tool for analyzing the motio...

Viscosity
5020

Viscosity is the property of a fluid that opposes the relative motion between its adjacent layers. It is a measure of the fluid's resistance to flo...

Voltmeter
5022

A voltmeter is an instrument used to measure the electrical potential difference between two points in a circuit. It is typically used to measure t...

Wave Motion
5024

Wave motion is simply how waves move. A wave is a disturbance that moves energy from one place to another. You can see wave motion in the ripples i...

Weather
5030

Weather refers to the short-term state of the atmosphere in a specific location. It is characterized by various elements such as temperature, humid...

Weightlessness
5031

Weightlessness is a condition in which an object appears to have no weight. This can occur when an object is in free fall, or when it is in orbit a...

Wiedemann Franz Law
5033

The Wiedemann Franz law states that the ratio of the thermal conductivity of a metal to its electrical conductivity is proportional to the temperat...

Work Done By Variable Force
5034

A variable force is a force whose magnitude changes as it acts on an object. The work done by a variable force is the integral of the force with re...

Yield Strength
5036

Yield strength is a material property that indicates the amount of stress required to cause permanent deformation in a material. It is an important...

Youngs Double Slit Experiment
5037

Interference is a phenomenon in which two or more waves combine to form a new wave pattern. In the case of light, interference can occur when two o...

Engineering Mechanics Equilibrium And Friction
15200

An equivalent force system is a system of forces that produces the same effect on a rigid body as a given force system. In other words, the two for...

Difference Between Resistance And Resistivity
15245

Resistance and resistivity are two fundamental concepts in the field of electricity. While they are related, they are not the same thing. Resistanc...

Application And Uses Of Based Articles In Physics
16561786

Physics is a fundamental science that helps us understand how the universe behaves. It's a subject that can seem challenging, but its principles ha...

Constants In Physics
16561787

Physical constants are quantities with fixed values that do not change, regardless of when or where they are measured. They are fundamental to our ...

Derivation Of Physics Formulas
16561788

Physics is a subject that is fundamentally based on mathematical equations and their derivations. These derivations help us understand the underlyi...

Differences & Comparisons Articles In Physics
16561789

Differences and comparisons articles in Physics are essential for several reasons. They provide a comprehensive understanding of various physical p...

Laws Of Physics
16561790

Physics is a branch of science that deals with the study of matter and its motion through space and time, along with related concepts such as energ...

Puzzles And Brain Teasers
16561793

Complete guide to physics puzzles including motion problems, energy puzzles, force problems, Newton's laws applications for NEET physics

Relation Between Based Articles In Physics
16561794

Understanding the relationship between energy and matter is fundamental to the field of physics and has numerous advantages. This relationship is f...

Si Units In Physics
16561795

The SI unit, also known as the International System of Units, is the modern form of the metric system and is the most widely used system of measure...

Types And Classifications Based Articles In Physics
16561796

The use of types and classification of articles in Physics is a crucial aspect of scientific literature. This approach offers several advantages th...

Value Of Constants In Physics
16561797

In physics, constants are fixed values that do not change. They are often fundamental characteristics of the universe, and they are used to describ...

Mechanics
16561802

Mechanics is a branch of physics that deals with the motion of objects and the forces that cause this motion. It is divided into two main sub-field...

Motion In Physics
16561803

Complete guide to motion in physics including types, linear motion, rotational motion, Newton's laws, velocity, acceleration for NEET physics

Relativity
16561805

Relativity is a fundamental concept in physics, proposed by Albert Einstein, which describes how the laws of physics apply equally in all non-accel...

Ampere'S Law
16561808

André-Marie Ampère was a French physicist and mathematician who made significant contributions to the field of electromagnetism. He is best known f...

Archimedes Principle
16561809

Archimedes' Principle states that the upward buoyant force that is exerted on a body immersed in a fluid, whether fully or partially submerged, is ...

Doppler Effect
16561811

The Doppler effect is a phenomenon that occurs when a source of sound or light is moving relative to an observer. It causes the frequency of the so...

Kirchhoff'S Law
16561813

Kirchhoff's Law, named after the German physicist Gustav Kirchhoff, consists of two fundamental principles that govern electrical circuits.

Laws Of Reflection
16561814

The Laws of Reflection describe the behavior of light when it interacts with a surface. They are:

Lenz'S Law
16561815

- Lenz's law is a fundamental principle in electromagnetism that describes the direction of the electromotive force (EMF) induced in a conductor wh...

Newton'S Laws Of Motion
16561816

Complete guide to Newton's laws of motion including law of inertia, F=ma, action-reaction, applications, and examples for NEET physics

Ohm'S Law
16561817

Ohm's Law is a fundamental principle in electrical engineering that describes the relationship between voltage, current, and resistance in an elect...

Unit Of Density
16561820

The unit of density is mass per unit volume. It is a measure of how much mass is packed into a given space. The most common unit of density is kilo...

Unit Of Force
16561822

Force is a physical quantity that describes an interaction that can change the motion of an object. The SI unit of force is the newton (N), named a...

Unit Of Power
16561825

A unit of power is a measure of the rate at which work is done or energy is transferred. The most common unit of power is the watt (W), named after...

Unit Of Pressure
16561826

Pressure is a physical quantity that measures the force applied perpendicular to a surface per unit area. Several units are used to measure pressur...

Unit Of Viscosity
16561827

The unit of viscosity is the poise (P), named after the French physician Jean Léonard Marie Poiseuille. It is defined as the dynamic viscosity of a...

Atmosphere
16561960

The term atmosphere refers to the layer of gases that surrounds a celestial body, such as a planet or moon. Here are some key points about the atmo...

Celestial Bodies
16561961

Celestial bodies are astronomical objects that exist in the universe beyond Earth's atmosphere. They include stars, planets, moons, asteroids, come...

Communication Systems
16561962

Communication systems are the means by which information is transmitted from one point to another. They can be classified into two main types: anal...

Deformation Of Solids
16561964

Deformation of solids refers to the change in shape or size of a solid material under the influence of external forces. It occurs when the applied ...

Diodes
16561965

Diodes are semiconductor devices that allow current to flow in only one direction. They are essential components in many electronic circuits, such ...

Earth Science
16561966

Earth science is the study of the planet Earth and its systems. It encompasses various scientific disciplines that explore the physical, chemical, ...

Electromagnetism
16561971

Electromagnetism is a branch of physics that deals with the relationship between electricity and magnetism. It is based on the principle that elect...

Electrostatics
16561972

Electrostatics is the branch of physics that deals with the behavior of electric charges at rest. The basic law of electrostatics is Coulomb's law,...

Force
16561974

Complete guide to force including definition, types, Newton's laws, formula F=ma, gravitational force, friction, and applications for NEET physics

Friction
16561976

Complete guide to friction including types, static friction, sliding friction, rolling friction, factors affecting friction, applications for NEET physics

Fundamental And Derived Units Of Measurement
16561977

Fundamental units are the basic units of measurement defined by the International System of Units (SI). They include the meter (m) for length, kilo...

Gravitation Gravitational Force And Newton'S Law Of Gravitation
16561978

Complete guide to gravitation including gravitational force, Newton's law, Kepler's laws, universal gravitation, applications for NEET physics

Introduction To Motion
16561980

Motion is the change in position of an object over time. It can be described in terms of speed, velocity, and acceleration.

Kinetic Theory Of Gases
16561981

The Kinetic Theory of Gases is a fundamental concept in physics that describes the behavior of gases at the molecular level. According to this theo...

Radioactivity: Alpha Decay
16561987

Alpha decay is a type of radioactive decay in which an unstable atomic nucleus loses two protons and two neutrons, emitting an alpha particle. Alph...

Rotational Motion
16561988

Rotational motion occurs when an object spins or revolves around a fixed point or axis. It involves the motion of an object around its own axis wit...

Scalar And Vector
16561989

In physics, a scalar quantity is a quantity that is fully described by its magnitude, or size. Examples of scalar quantities include mass, temperat...

Scientific Methods
16561990

The scientific method is a systematic approach to the study of natural phenomena. It involves making observations, forming hypotheses, conducting e...

The Concept Of Pressure
16561994

Complete guide to pressure including definition, formula, atmospheric pressure, fluid pressure, applications, and units for NEET physics

Thermal Properties Of Materials
16561995

Thermal properties of materials describe how a material responds to changes in temperature. These properties are crucial in various engineering app...

Work, Energy And Power
16561998

Complete guide to work, energy, and power including definitions, formulas, kinetic energy, potential energy, conservation of energy for NEET physics

List of Physics Scientists and Their Inventions

Famous Scientists And Their Inventions

  1. Sir Isaac Newton (1643-1727): Newton is best known for his laws of motion and universal gravitation. He also made significant contributions to optics, and shares credit with Gottfried Leibniz for developing calculus.

  2. Albert Einstein (1879-1955): Einstein is most famous for his theory of relativity, including the famous equation E=mc^2, which states that energy (E) is equal to mass (m) times the speed of light (c) squared. His work revolutionized our understanding of time, space, and gravity.

  3. Nikola Tesla (1856-1943): Tesla was a prolific inventor and engineer known for his work on alternating current (AC) electrical systems, which are the foundation for modern electricity distribution. He also conducted pioneering work in electromagnetic fields, leading to the invention of the Tesla coil.

  4. Marie Curie (1867-1934): Curie was a physicist and chemist who conducted pioneering research on radioactivity, a term she coined. She was the first woman to win a Nobel Prize, and the only person to win the Nobel Prize in two different scientific fields—Physics and Chemistry.

  5. Thomas Edison (1847-1931): Edison is best known for developing the practical electric light bulb. He also invented the phonograph and the motion picture camera. His work has had a significant impact on modern industrialized life.

  6. James Clerk Maxwell (1831-1879): Maxwell is most famous for his classical theory of electromagnetic radiation, which brought together electricity, magnetism, and light as different manifestations of the same phenomenon. His equations for electromagnetism have been called the “second great unification in physics”.

  7. Galileo Galilei (1564-1642): Galileo is best known for his work in astronomy, including his discovery of Jupiter’s four largest moons. He also made significant contributions to the fields of physics, developing the law of falling bodies and the law of parabolic trajectories.

  8. Charles Darwin (1809-1882): Darwin is best known for his work on the theory of evolution, which he presented in his book “On the Origin of Species”. His work laid the groundwork for the study of life science and the theory of evolution by natural selection.

These are just a few examples of famous scientists and their inventions. Each of these individuals made significant contributions to their respective fields, and their work continues to influence science and technology today.

Albert Einstein

Albert Einstein is one of the most influential physicists of the 20th century, and possibly in the history of physics. He was born on March 14, 1879, in Ulm, Germany, and passed away on April 18, 1955, in Princeton, New Jersey, USA.

Einstein is best known for developing the theory of relativity, which revolutionized the field of theoretical physics. His work is also known for its influence on the philosophy of science. The theory of relativity is divided into two parts: special relativity and general relativity.

Special Relativity, proposed by Einstein in 1905, describes the laws of physics as they apply to objects that are moving at a constant speed in a straight line, also known as inertial frames. One of the key aspects of special relativity is that it found that space and time are interwoven into a single continuum known as space-time. It also introduced the famous equation E=mc^2, which states that energy (E) is equal to mass (m) times the speed of light (c) squared. This equation shows that mass and energy are interchangeable.

General Relativity, published by Einstein in 1915, is a theory of gravitation that is a radical departure from Newtonian gravity. It describes gravity not as a force but as a consequence of the curvature of space-time caused by mass and energy. This theory has been confirmed by many experiments and observations and has made numerous predictions that have been confirmed, such as the bending of light by gravity.

Einstein also made significant contributions to quantum mechanics, although he had reservations about its philosophical implications. He is known for his “Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen paradox”, a thought experiment that he proposed to demonstrate what he perceived as a lack of completeness in quantum mechanics.

Einstein received the 1921 Nobel Prize in Physics for his explanation of the photoelectric effect, a phenomenon in which electrons are emitted from matter (metal surfaces) after the absorption of energy from light. This work was instrumental in the development of quantum mechanics.

Einstein’s work has had a significant impact on the development of modern physics and our understanding of the universe. His theories have been used to develop GPS technology, understand the behavior of black holes, and study the universe’s expansion. Despite his death over half a century ago, Einstein’s legacy continues to live on in the scientific community and beyond.

J.J Thomson

J.J. Thomson, whose full name is Sir Joseph John Thomson, was a British physicist and Nobel Laureate, best known for his significant contributions in the field of atomic physics. He was born on December 18, 1856, in Cheetham Hill, a suburb of Manchester, England, and passed away on August 30, 1940.

Thomson is most famous for his discovery of the electron. In 1897, he conducted a series of experiments that led him to discover negatively charged particles, which he called “corpuscles,” but are now known as electrons. This was a groundbreaking discovery because, at that time, atoms were thought to be the smallest indivisible particles of matter. Thomson’s discovery of subatomic particles fundamentally changed this view and paved the way for modern atomic and quantum physics.

Thomson’s discovery of the electron was made possible through his work with cathode rays. He used a cathode ray tube in his experiments, which is a sealed glass container with two metal electrodes. When a high voltage is applied, a beam of particles, or cathode rays, is produced. Thomson measured the charge-to-mass ratio of these particles and found it to be much smaller than that of a hydrogen ion, suggesting the particles were much smaller than atoms. This led to the conclusion that these particles were subatomic and a fundamental component of atoms.

In addition to discovering the electron, Thomson also proposed the first model of the atom, known as the “plum pudding” model. In this model, the atom is envisioned as a sphere of positive charge with negatively charged electrons embedded within it, like plums in a pudding. Although this model was later replaced by the more accurate nuclear model proposed by his former student, Ernest Rutherford, it was a crucial step in the development of atomic theory.

Thomson’s contributions to science were widely recognized during his lifetime. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1906 “in recognition of the great merits of his theoretical and experimental investigations on the conduction of electricity by gases.” He was also knighted by King Edward VII in 1908.

In conclusion, J.J. Thomson’s work laid the foundation for our modern understanding of the atom and the field of atomic physics. His discovery of the electron and his contributions to atomic theory have had a profound impact on the field of physics and our understanding of the physical world.

Ernest Rutherford

Ernest Rutherford, often referred to as the father of nuclear physics, was a New Zealand-born physicist who made significant contributions to our understanding of atomic structure and radioactivity. He was born on August 30, 1871, in Nelson, New Zealand, and died on October 19, 1937, in Cambridge, England.

Rutherford’s early work in physics was largely focused on the study of radioactivity. In 1898, he discovered that there were at least two distinct types of radiation produced by radioactive substances, which he named alpha and beta rays. This work was instrumental in the development of the field of nuclear physics.

In 1908, Rutherford was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his investigations into the disintegration of the elements and the chemistry of radioactive substances. Despite being a physicist, he won the award in chemistry because his work was seen to have made a significant contribution to both fields.

Perhaps Rutherford’s most famous experiment was the gold foil experiment, conducted with his students Hans Geiger and Ernest Marsden in 1909. In this experiment, they fired alpha particles at a thin sheet of gold foil and observed the scattering patterns on a screen. They found that most of the alpha particles passed straight through the foil, but some were deflected at large angles. This was unexpected and led Rutherford to propose a new model of the atom, known as the Rutherford model or the nuclear model.

In this model, the atom is mostly empty space, with a tiny, dense nucleus at the center containing all of the atom’s positive charge and most of its mass. The electrons orbit the nucleus at a distance, similar to planets orbiting the sun. This model was a significant departure from the previously accepted plum pudding model, in which the atom was thought to be a uniform sphere of positive charge with electrons embedded throughout.

In 1919, Rutherford made another significant discovery: he found that by bombarding nitrogen with alpha particles, he could induce a nuclear reaction that resulted in the production of a different element, oxygen. This was the first experimental demonstration of a nuclear reaction, and it paved the way for the development of nuclear energy and nuclear weapons.

Rutherford’s work has had a profound impact on our understanding of the physical world. His model of the atom, while later refined by other scientists, laid the groundwork for the development of quantum mechanics. His discovery of nuclear reactions has had far-reaching implications, both beneficial and destructive, for human society.

John Dalton

John Dalton was an English chemist, physicist, and meteorologist who is best known for introducing the atomic theory into chemistry, and for his research into color blindness, sometimes referred to as Daltonism in his honor.

Born in 1766 in Cumberland, England, Dalton began his scientific career as a meteorologist, keeping a daily weather diary and making several important contributions to the field. However, his most significant work was in the field of chemistry.

In 1803, Dalton introduced his atomic theory. This was a revolutionary idea at the time and laid the groundwork for our modern understanding of chemistry. The theory proposed that all matter is composed of atoms, which are indivisible and indestructible particles. Each element is composed of a single type of atom, and chemical reactions involve the rearrangement of these atoms.

Dalton’s atomic theory also included the idea that all atoms of a certain element are identical in mass and properties, and that compounds are formed by a combination of two or more different kinds of atoms. This theory explained why elements always react in ratios of whole numbers (the Law of Multiple Proportions), a fact that had been observed experimentally but had not been explained satisfactorily.

Dalton also developed methods to calculate atomic weights and structures and formulated the law of partial pressures.

In addition to his work on atomic theory, Dalton studied color blindness. He himself was color blind, and his work on the subject was the first scientific attempt to explain the phenomenon. He incorrectly hypothesized that the condition was caused by discoloration of the liquid medium of the eyeball. Despite the incorrectness of his hypothesis, his contributions to the study of color blindness were significant and the condition is sometimes referred to as Daltonism in his honor.

Dalton’s work had a major impact on scientific thought and laid the groundwork for the development of modern chemistry. His atomic theory provided a physical basis for the concept of a chemical compound, and his methods of calculating atomic weights and structures paved the way for the development of the periodic table. His work on color blindness also made significant contributions to the field of ophthalmology. Dalton passed away in 1844, but his legacy in the field of science continues to be felt today.

James Chadwick

James Chadwick was a British physicist who is best known for his discovery of the neutron in 1932, an achievement for which he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1935. His work on the neutron led to the development of nuclear power and atomic weapons, and he played a key role in the British team that worked on the Manhattan Project during World War II.

Born in Cheshire, England, in 1891, Chadwick attended the University of Manchester and later studied under Ernest Rutherford at the University of Cambridge. He worked on a number of research projects, including the study of atomic numbers and the nature of beta radiation.

In 1932, Chadwick made his most significant contribution to physics when he discovered the neutron. At the time, the atom was known to consist of a positively charged nucleus surrounded by negatively charged electrons, but the details of the atomic structure were not fully understood. Chadwick’s discovery of the neutron, a particle with no charge, helped to explain the atomic structure and the nature of nuclear reactions.

Chadwick’s discovery of the neutron was a major breakthrough in the field of nuclear physics. It led to the development of nuclear power, which provides a significant portion of the world’s electricity today. It also led to the development of atomic weapons, which have had a profound impact on global politics and warfare.

During World War II, Chadwick was part of the British team that worked on the Manhattan Project, the U.S. project that developed the first atomic bomb. After the war, he served as the British scientific advisor to the United Nations Atomic Energy Commission.

Chadwick’s work has had a lasting impact on the field of physics and on the world as a whole. His discovery of the neutron has been fundamental to our understanding of atomic structure and nuclear reactions, and it has had far-reaching implications in both the energy sector and the military sphere.

Isaac Newton

Sir Isaac Newton was an English mathematician, physicist, astronomer, and author who is widely recognized as one of the most influential scientists of all time. He was born on January 4, 1643, in Woolsthorpe, England and died on March 31, 1727.

Newton’s work has significantly influenced our understanding of the physical world. His contributions to science and mathematics are vast, but he is perhaps best known for his three laws of motion and the law of universal gravitation.

  1. Newton’s First Law (also known as the Law of Inertia) states that an object at rest will stay at rest, and an object in motion will stay in motion, unless acted upon by an external force. This law explains why we feel a jolt when a car suddenly stops - our bodies want to keep moving!

  2. Newton’s Second Law of Motion states that the force acting on an object is equal to the mass of that object times its acceleration (F=ma). This law explains how we can predict the movement of an object if we know the forces acting upon it and its mass.

  3. Newton’s Third Law states that for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. This law explains why we move backwards when we jump off a boat - the force we apply to the boat has an equal and opposite reaction on us.

Newton’s Law of Universal Gravitation states that every particle of matter in the universe attracts every other particle with a force that is directly proportional to the product of their masses and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between their centers. This law explains why we are pulled towards the Earth and why the planets orbit the sun.

In addition to his work on motion and gravity, Newton also made significant contributions to the field of optics. He built the first practical reflecting telescope and developed a theory of color based on the observation that a prism decomposes white light into the many colors that form the visible spectrum.

Newton’s work in mathematics was equally groundbreaking. He developed the mathematical techniques known as calculus (although the German mathematician Gottfried Leibniz independently developed similar techniques around the same time).

Newton’s work laid the groundwork for the principles of conservation of momentum and energy. His laws of motion and universal gravitation became the cornerstones of physics, which remained undisputed until Albert Einstein proposed his theory of relativity in the early 20th century. Despite this, Newton’s laws still provide accurate results within the realms of classical mechanics.

Charles-Augustin de Coulomb

Charles-Augustin de Coulomb was a prominent French physicist and engineer who made significant contributions to the field of physics, particularly in the study of electrostatics and magnetism. He was born on June 14, 1736, in Angoulême, France, and died on August 23, 1806.

Coulomb is best known for developing Coulomb’s law, which describes the electrostatic interaction between electrically charged particles. The law states that the force between two charges is directly proportional to the product of their charges and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them. This law has been fundamental in the development of the theory of electromagnetism.

Coulomb’s law can be stated mathematically as F = k * q1 * q2 / r^2, where F is the force between the charges, q1 and q2 are the amounts of charge, r is the distance between the charges, and k is a constant value known as Coulomb’s constant.

In addition to his work on electrostatics, Coulomb also made significant contributions to the field of magnetism. He established the inverse square law of attraction and repulsion of magnetic poles, which is similar to the law he discovered for electric charges. This law states that the force between two magnetic poles is directly proportional to the product of their strengths and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them.

Coulomb also made important contributions to mechanics and civil engineering. He developed a theory of friction and conducted research on the strength of materials, which had significant implications for the construction of buildings and bridges.

Coulomb’s work laid the foundation for the development of the field of electromagnetism, and his laws are still fundamental in physics today. His contributions to science have been recognized by the naming of the unit of electric charge, the coulomb, after him.

Georg Simon Ohm

Georg Simon Ohm was a German physicist and mathematician who made significant contributions to the field of electrical circuits, mainly known for formulating Ohm’s Law. Born on March 16, 1789, in Erlangen, Bavaria, Germany, Ohm came from a Protestant family. His father, Johann Wolfgang Ohm, was a master locksmith, and his mother, Maria Elizabeth Beck, was the daughter of a tailor.

Ohm’s early education was provided by his father who taught him mathematics to an advanced level. He attended the University of Erlangen but had to leave after three semesters due to financial constraints. He then took up a private tutoring job in Switzerland, where he continued his private study of mathematics.

In 1827, Ohm published “Die galvanische Kette, mathematisch bearbeitet” (The Galvanic Circuit Investigated Mathematically) where he gave his complete theory of electricity. This work, which is now known as Ohm’s law, states that the current passing through a conductor between two points is directly proportional to the voltage across the two points, and inversely proportional to the resistance between them. This is usually written as V=IR, where V is the voltage, I is the current, and R is the resistance.

Ohm’s law was initially received with criticism as it contradicted the prevalent scientific beliefs of the time. However, it was later accepted and became a fundamental principle in the study of electricity and electronics. It is still widely used in these fields today.

In 1849, Ohm was appointed as a professor of experimental physics at the University of Munich. During his tenure, he conducted significant research in acoustics and the theory of colors. He also worked on a standard system of units for electrical quantities, which later led to the definition of the ohm as the unit of electrical resistance.

Georg Simon Ohm died on July 6, 1854, in Munich, but his legacy lives on. His work laid the foundation for the field of electrical engineering, and his name continues to be used in the ohm, the SI unit of electrical resistance. His contributions to science and technology have had a profound impact on our understanding and use of electricity.

Michael Faraday

Michael Faraday was a renowned British scientist who made significant contributions to the fields of electromagnetism and electrochemistry. He was born on September 22, 1791, in Newington Butts, England, and died on August 25, 1867. Despite having little formal education, Faraday is considered one of the most influential scientists in history.

Faraday is best known for his work on electromagnetic induction, which led to the development of the modern electric motor, generator, and transformer. He discovered that a changing magnetic field produces an electric field, a principle now known as Faraday’s law of electromagnetic induction. This discovery was groundbreaking at the time and forms the basis for many of the electrical technologies we use today, including power generation and electrical transmission.

In addition to his work on electromagnetism, Faraday also made significant contributions to electrochemistry. He introduced the concepts of the anode, cathode, electrode, and ion, which are fundamental to our understanding of chemistry today. Faraday’s laws of electrolysis describe the relationship between the amount of substance produced at an electrode and the amount of electricity passed through the substance.

Faraday also conducted extensive research on the nature of electricity, demonstrating that electricity, regardless of its source, is the same. This led to the concept of electrical fields, which are used to explain how forces act at a distance.

Despite his lack of formal education, Faraday was a brilliant experimentalist. His experiments were carefully designed and meticulously carried out, and his observations were precise and accurate. He was also an excellent communicator and was known for his ability to explain complex scientific concepts in a way that could be understood by non-scientists.

Faraday’s work has had a profound impact on our understanding of the physical world and has laid the foundation for many of the technological advances we enjoy today. His contributions to science and technology have earned him a place among the greatest scientists in history.

Thomas Edison

Thomas Alva Edison was an American inventor and businessman who has been described as America’s greatest inventor. He was born on February 11, 1847, in Milan, Ohio, and died on October 18, 1931, in West Orange, New Jersey. Edison is best known for his development of the practical electric light bulb, among other inventions.

Edison’s first major invention was the phonograph in 1877. This device was the first to be able to reproduce the recorded sound. His design was a significant improvement on earlier recording methods, and it was the first device that could both record and play back sound.

However, Edison is probably best known for his work on the electric light bulb. While he was not the first to invent it, he was the first to create a practical, long-lasting bulb that could be used in homes and businesses. This invention, patented in 1879, was a major step forward in the development of electric power systems.

Edison’s work on the light bulb led to the development of the electric power industry. He established the Edison Electric Light Company in New York City in 1878. By the mid-1880s, the company was supplying electricity to a small number of customers in New York City.

In addition to the phonograph and the electric light, Edison also made significant contributions to other technologies. For example, he developed the motion picture camera, known as the Kinetograph, and the alkaline storage battery.

Edison’s inventions had a profound impact on modern industrial society. His work helped to lay the foundation for much of the technology that we use today, including electrical power, sound recording, and motion pictures.

Edison was a prolific inventor, holding 1,093 patents for his inventions. He was also known for his work ethic, often working long hours in his laboratory. Despite his success, Edison faced many challenges, including business failures and criticism from his peers. However, his contributions to science and technology have made him a significant figure in history.

In conclusion, Thomas Edison was a pivotal figure in the development of modern technology. His inventions, particularly the practical electric light bulb, have had a lasting impact on society. His work has shaped the way we live today, making him one of the most influential inventors in history.

Henri Becquerel

Henri Becquerel was a French physicist who made significant contributions to the field of radioactivity, a term later coined by Marie Curie. Born on December 15, 1852, in Paris, France, Becquerel came from a family of scholars and scientists, which greatly influenced his scientific pursuits.

Becquerel’s most notable work was his discovery of natural radioactivity in 1896. This discovery was somewhat accidental. He was initially studying phosphorescence, a phenomenon where certain materials emit light after being exposed to sunlight. Becquerel was working with uranium salts and hypothesized that the salts would also emit X-rays in addition to light. During his experiments, he found that the uranium salts could fog a photographic plate, even without exposure to sunlight. This was a groundbreaking discovery as it showed that the uranium was emitting radiation on its own, without an external source of energy. This phenomenon was later named radioactivity.

Becquerel’s discovery of radioactivity was a significant milestone in the field of physics. It opened up a new area of research and paved the way for further studies on radioactive elements. His work laid the foundation for the studies of Marie Curie, who later discovered the elements polonium and radium, and for the development of nuclear physics and nuclear energy.

In recognition of his work, Becquerel was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1903, which he shared with Pierre and Marie Curie. His discovery of natural radioactivity has had a profound impact on both science and society, with applications ranging from medical treatments to energy production.

Becquerel passed away on August 25, 1908, but his legacy lives on in the unit of radioactivity named after him. The “becquerel” (Bq) is the SI unit of radioactivity, defined as one nuclear decay or transformation per second.

Marie Sklodowska-Curie

Marie Skłodowska-Curie was a Polish-born physicist and chemist and one of the most famous scientists of her time. She was born on November 7, 1867, in Warsaw, Poland. She moved to Paris to continue her studies where she met Pierre Curie, a French physicist, whom she married in 1895.

Together with her husband, she conducted pioneering research on radioactivity, a term she coined herself to describe the phenomena they were observing. Their work, including the discovery of the radioactive elements polonium and radium, was groundbreaking and laid the foundation for much of the subsequent research in nuclear physics and chemistry.

In 1903, Marie Curie became the first woman to win the Nobel Prize in Physics, which she shared with her husband Pierre and physicist Henri Becquerel for their combined though separate work on radioactivity. After Pierre’s untimely death in 1906, Marie took over his teaching post at the Sorbonne, becoming the first woman to teach at the university.

In 1911, she won a second Nobel Prize, this time in Chemistry, for her work in radioactivity, making her the first person to win the prestigious award twice and remains the only person to have won it in two different scientific fields.

Curie’s research was not limited to pure science. During World War I, she developed mobile radiography units, known as “Little Curies,” to provide X-ray services to field hospitals, a significant contribution to medical science and services.

However, her extensive work with radioactive materials took a toll on her health. Marie Curie died on July 4, 1934, from aplastic anemia, a condition likely caused by prolonged exposure to radiation. Despite the risks she faced in her research, her pioneering work has left a lasting legacy in the world of science.

Marie Curie’s life and work have made her a symbol of scientific dedication and self-sacrifice. Her achievements opened the doors for further research into the atom, which has led to various applications, from nuclear power generation to medical treatments for cancer.

Max Planck

Max Planck, born on April 23, 1858, in Kiel, Germany, was a theoretical physicist who is best known for his work in quantum theory, a field in physics that describes the behavior of particles at the smallest scales. His work in this field was so significant that it earned him the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1918.

Planck’s most notable contribution to physics was his development of Planck’s constant, denoted as “h,” which is a fundamental physical constant used to describe the behavior of particles and waves on the atomic scale. This constant is a cornerstone of quantum mechanics, a branch of physics that describes the strange and counterintuitive behavior of particles at the smallest scales.

Planck’s constant emerged from his work on black-body radiation. A black body is an idealized physical body that absorbs all incident electromagnetic radiation, regardless of frequency or angle of incidence. In the late 19th century, physicists were struggling to explain why the intensity of electromagnetic radiation emitted by a black body depends on the frequency of the radiation. The classical theories of the time predicted that the intensity should increase without limit as the frequency increases, a prediction known as the ultraviolet catastrophe.

Planck solved this problem by proposing that the energy of electromagnetic waves is quantized, meaning it can only take on certain discrete values. He suggested that the energy of a wave is proportional to its frequency, with the constant of proportionality being what we now call Planck’s constant. This was a revolutionary idea at the time, as it contradicted the classical notion that energy can take on any value.

Planck’s work on quantum theory paved the way for the work of other physicists like Albert Einstein and Niels Bohr, who further developed the theory and expanded its applications. Despite his initial reluctance to accept some of the more radical implications of quantum theory, Planck’s work laid the foundation for one of the most successful theories in all of physics.

In addition to his work on quantum theory, Planck made significant contributions to other areas of physics as well. He made important contributions to thermodynamics and statistical mechanics, and he also did work on the theory of heat radiation.

Planck was also known for his high ethical standards and his commitment to his students and colleagues. Despite facing personal tragedies, including the loss of his wife and children, he continued his scientific work with unwavering dedication.

Planck passed away on October 4, 1947, but his legacy lives on in the many scientific concepts and constants that bear his name, including Planck’s constant, the Planck length, and the Planck time. His work continues to be a fundamental part of modern physics.

Heinrich Rudolf Hertz

Heinrich Rudolf Hertz was a German physicist who is most famous for his work on electromagnetic waves. He was born on February 22, 1857, in Hamburg, Germany, and died on January 1, 1894. Hertz’s work in the field of electromagnetic radiation was groundbreaking and paved the way for the development of modern day radio and television broadcasting.

Hertz studied at the University of Munich and the University of Berlin, where he was a student of Hermann von Helmholtz, one of the most influential physicists of the 19th century. After completing his studies, Hertz began his own experiments on electromagnetism.

In 1886, Hertz made a significant discovery. He was able to prove the existence of electromagnetic waves, something that had been predicted by James Clerk Maxwell’s equations of electromagnetism. Hertz did this by creating a device that produced these waves and another that detected them. This was a major breakthrough in the field of physics, as it provided the first tangible proof of Maxwell’s theories.

Hertz’s experiments showed that these electromagnetic waves behaved in the same way as light waves, reflecting off surfaces and refracting, or bending, when they passed through different materials. He also discovered the photoelectric effect, which is the emission of electrons when a material is hit by light or other electromagnetic radiation.

Hertz’s work was revolutionary and had a profound impact on the field of physics. His experiments confirmed the theories of electromagnetism and laid the groundwork for the development of radio, television, and many other technologies that rely on electromagnetic waves.

The unit of frequency, one cycle per second, is named the “hertz” in his honor. Despite his early death at the age of 36 from a rare form of blood vessel inflammation, Hertz’s contributions to science and technology continue to be felt to this day. His work is a testament to the power of scientific inquiry and the progress that can be made through dedicated research and experimentation.

Wilhelm Conrad Röntgen

Wilhelm Conrad Röntgen was a German mechanical engineer and physicist, who, on 8 November 1895, produced and detected electromagnetic radiation in a wavelength range known as X-rays or Röntgen rays, an achievement that earned him the first Nobel Prize in Physics in 1901.

Röntgen was born on March 27, 1845, in Lennep, Germany. He studied at the Polytechnic Institute in Zurich and later became a professor of physics at the University of Würzburg in 1888. His discovery of X-rays was made during his experiments on cathode rays. He noticed that a fluorescent screen in his lab started to glow even though it was placed outside of the direct path of the cathode rays he was studying. This led him to realize that a new type of ray, which he temporarily named “X” for unknown, was being emitted.

Röntgen’s discovery revolutionized the fields of physics and medicine. He took the first X-ray photographs, which he called “shadow pictures,” including a famous image of his wife’s hand with a ring, demonstrating both the medical and scientific applications of this new type of radiation.

Despite the immense practical use of his discovery, Röntgen refused to take out patents, intending for the benefits of his findings to be freely available to the public. He also did not want his discovery to be named after him, preferring the term “X-rays,” but many languages, including German, refer to X-rays as “Röntgen rays.”

Röntgen’s work laid the foundation for many modern medical imaging techniques, including fluoroscopy, computed tomography (CT scans), and mammography. His discovery also had a significant impact on many scientific fields and led to many further research in areas such as atomic physics, crystallography, and nuclear physics.

Röntgen died on February 10, 1923, but his legacy lives on in the countless lives saved and improved by the medical technologies his discovery made possible. The International Union of Pure and Applied Physics named the unit for the universal physical constant of radiation dose “the roentgen” in his honor.

Neils Bohr & Rutherford

Niels Bohr and Ernest Rutherford are two of the most influential figures in the field of atomic physics. Their contributions have significantly shaped our understanding of the atomic structure and quantum mechanics.

Ernest Rutherford, a New Zealand-born British physicist, is often referred to as the father of nuclear physics. He is best known for his gold foil experiment, which led to the discovery of the atomic nucleus. In this experiment, Rutherford and his team fired alpha particles at a thin gold foil and observed the scattering pattern on a fluorescent screen. They found that most of the alpha particles passed straight through the foil, but some were deflected at large angles. This led Rutherford to propose a model of the atom where most of the mass and positive charge is concentrated in a tiny central nucleus, with electrons orbiting around it.

Niels Bohr, a Danish physicist, built upon Rutherford’s model to develop the Bohr model of the atom. He proposed that electrons move in fixed orbits around the nucleus, and can jump from one orbit to another by absorbing or emitting energy. This was a significant step towards the development of quantum mechanics, as it introduced the concept of quantized energy levels. Bohr’s model successfully explained many properties of hydrogen, the simplest atom, but it failed to accurately predict the behavior of larger atoms.

Bohr also introduced the principle of complementarity, which states that an electron can be both a particle and a wave, but that these aspects are complementary and cannot be observed simultaneously. This principle is a fundamental aspect of quantum mechanics.

In summary, Rutherford and Bohr made significant contributions to our understanding of the atomic structure. Rutherford discovered the atomic nucleus and proposed a model of the atom with a central nucleus and orbiting electrons. Bohr built upon this model to introduce quantized energy levels and the principle of complementarity, paving the way for the development of quantum mechanics.

Enrico Fermi

Enrico Fermi was an Italian-American physicist and the creator of the world’s first nuclear reactor, the Chicago Pile-1. He has been called the “architect of the nuclear age” and the “architect of the atomic bomb”. He was one of the very few physicists in history who excelled both theoretically and experimentally.

Fermi was born in Rome, Italy, on September 29, 1901. He was a prodigy from an early age, showing an incredible aptitude for mathematics and physics. He won a scholarship to the prestigious Scuola Normale Superiore in Pisa, where he received his doctorate in physics in 1922.

Fermi made significant contributions to the development of quantum theory, nuclear and particle physics, and statistical mechanics. He is best known for his work on the development of the first nuclear reactor, his contributions to the development of quantum theory, his contributions to the understanding of nuclear reactions brought about by slow neutrons, and his discovery of transuranic elements.

In 1938, Fermi was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics for his “demonstrations of the existence of new radioactive elements produced by neutron irradiation, and for his related discovery of nuclear reactions brought about by slow neutrons”. After receiving the Nobel Prize, Fermi left Italy due to the Fascist racial laws that threatened his Jewish wife Laura. They emigrated to the United States, where he worked on the Manhattan Project during World War II.

Fermi led the team that designed and built Chicago Pile-1, which went critical on December 2, 1942. This was the first artificial self-sustaining nuclear reaction, a key experiment in the development of the atomic bomb. After the war, Fermi served under various capacities at the University of Chicago and the Argonne National Laboratory.

Fermi was a prolific scientist, and his work has left a lasting legacy in the field of physics. The element fermium (Fm, atomic number 100) is named in his honor, as is the Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory (Fermilab) in Batavia, Illinois, USA. He died in Chicago in 1954 and is remembered as one of the greatest scientists of the 20th century.

Discoveries

Discoveries in physics have been instrumental in shaping our understanding of the universe and our place within it. These discoveries have not only expanded our knowledge of the physical world, but have also led to numerous technological advancements that have transformed society.

One of the earliest and most significant discoveries in physics was the concept of gravity. Sir Isaac Newton’s law of universal gravitation, formulated in the 17th century, described gravity as a force that attracts two bodies towards each other. This discovery not only explained why objects fall to the ground, but also how planets orbit the sun.

In the 19th century, James Clerk Maxwell discovered that electricity, magnetism and light were all manifestations of the same phenomenon, now known as electromagnetism. This unification of forces was a major breakthrough in physics, leading to the development of many modern technologies, including electric power, radio, television, and the internet.

In the early 20th century, Albert Einstein’s theory of relativity revolutionized our understanding of space, time, and gravity. His theory predicted that the fabric of space-time could be curved by mass and energy, leading to phenomena such as black holes and gravitational waves.

In the mid-20th century, the development of quantum mechanics introduced a new framework for understanding the behavior of particles at the smallest scales. Quantum mechanics has led to the development of many modern technologies, including lasers, semiconductors, and MRI scanners.

More recently, the discovery of the Higgs boson at the Large Hadron Collider confirmed the existence of the Higgs field, a fundamental field of energy that gives particles their mass. This discovery was a major milestone in the field of particle physics, confirming a key prediction of the Standard Model.

These are just a few examples of the many discoveries in physics that have shaped our understanding of the universe. Each discovery builds upon the ones before it, leading to a deeper and more comprehensive understanding of the physical world.