Physics College (ATC)

Mechanics describes motion and forces.

• Newton's laws govern force and motion (F = ma).
• Velocity is speed with direction; acceleration is its change.
• Work = force × distance; energy is the capacity to do work.
• Kinetic and potential energy convert but are conserved.

Waves carry energy; thermodynamics governs heat.

• Waves have wavelength, frequency, and amplitude.
• Sound is a mechanical wave needing a medium.
• The laws of thermodynamics govern energy and entropy.
• Energy is conserved and tends to disperse.

Fluid mechanics studies liquids and gases in motion.

• Pressure = force ÷ area.
• Buoyancy (Archimedes' principle) lifts objects in fluid.
• Bernoulli's principle links speed and pressure.
• Fluids flow from high to low pressure.

Electricity is the flow of charge.

• Ohm's law: Voltage = Current × Resistance (V = IR).
• Power is measured in watts.
• Circuits can be series or parallel.
• Charges create electric fields and forces.

Light behaves as both a wave and a particle.

• Light is part of the electromagnetic spectrum.
• Wave model explains diffraction and interference.
• Particle model (photons) explains the photoelectric effect.
• This is called wave-particle duality.

Optics studies how light forms images.

• Reflection (mirrors) and refraction (lenses) bend light.
• Lenses focus light at a focal point.
• Images can be real or virtual, magnified or reduced.
• Optics underlies cameras, eyes, and microscopes.

Thermodynamics governs heat and energy transfer.

• First law: energy is conserved.
• Second law: entropy (disorder) increases.
• Third law: entropy approaches zero at absolute zero.
• Heat flows from hot to cold.

Magnetism and electricity are deeply linked.

• Magnets have north and south poles and magnetic fields.
• Moving charges create magnetic fields (electromagnetism).
• Induction generates current from a changing magnetic field.
• This principle powers motors and generators.

Math is the language of physics.

• Use algebra, trigonometry, and vectors.
• Units and dimensional analysis keep calculations consistent.
• Significant figures reflect measurement precision.
• Graphs reveal relationships between variables.