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How Relevant is Physics?
Have you ever wondered why the curriculum implemented by the authorities always includes Physics? They introduce novel and complicated topics that require students to solve for the answers that they rarely use in real life. They teach students laws that have definitions that rival even those written in penal codes in terms of difficulty.
And yet, the authorities seem to disregard these facts and continue to implement curriculums that include the subject of Physics. But for what reason? Is Physics that relevant? This article will answer all those questions and will help open your eyes to the wonders and relevance of Physics in the daily life of humankind.
What is the purpose of Physics?
Before anything else, let us first understand what Physics is as a science so that we may understand how it is relevant. In general, Physics is a science that deals with matter and energy and their interactions.
If you paid attention to your third-grade science class, you should remember that almost anything we can perceive in this universe is matter (antimatter cannot be observed with the naked eye, thus it is not included). This alone is enough to sell the fact that Physics is relevant to our world.
Another focus of Physics to take note of is that it also deals with energy. Energy is what we use to keep ourselves warm and not freeze to death, energy is what allows the engines of our cars to move, and energy is what allows us to read this online article. One cannot do something without the aid of energy, and the issue of how it is transferred and its interactions are what is taught in Physics.
To put it simply, Physics helps us understand the things around us, how they work, and how they operate. However, if you want to know how Physics is relevant on a galactic scale; well, let’s just say that Physics is what has helped us understand the workings of the galaxies, cosmos, and universe which we thought never existed just a few centuries ago.
How Physics helps humankind
Physics is not only relevant with regard to humanity’s search for knowledge. It is also responsible for the objects and luxuries we are enjoying today. Here are a few examples of how Physics has been of use to humankind:
• Machinery
Ever since the industrial revolution and the start of mass production of goods and products, life has never been easier. The printing press paved way for the spread of affordable and widespread information, the steam engines brought forth faster and more efficient transportation, and the discovery that electricity can be harnessed to power machines and appliances have changed the way we live our lives today.
All of these are thanks to machinery that operate under and follow the laws of Physics. Machinery are not simple machines; they are complex and intricate. Yet they still follow the rules of Physics that their simple cousins also abide by. Without a proper understanding of Physics, these pieces of machinery would fail and not work the way we are used to.
• Transportation
Speaking of the steam engine, transportation has also been widely important not only for the comfort of humanity but to the economy as well. Effective transportation allows for the workers and goods to move from one place to another over a short period of time. This increases the productivity of a community and leaves more time to improve the way of living even more.
And what do we have to thank? That’s right, Physics. The engines in the different modes of transportation humanity use operate by utilizing various laws under Physics. For instance, using the right combination of fuel and air to create continuous and stable combustions inside the engine to move the pistons and generate the power needed to rotate the wheels require a firm understanding of fluid mechanics, which is a topic covered in Physics.
• Flight
A form of transportation that is different from the rest and was only discovered a century ago is flight. Flight is one of the fastest forms of travel as it allows one to cover thousands of miles over the course of a few hours.
The engines that planes use still follow the laws of fluid mechanics, but what is more interesting is what enables the planes to fly. Yes, the wings are the obvious answer. However, not all wings allow flight. The specific shape of the wings in planes allows for it to harness something called lift, which is essentially a force created when there is a difference in air pressure between the top and bottom portion of the wing. Lift is what allows planes to fly and, just like engines, can be explained and improved by understanding Physics better.
• Water systems
Tap water is another luxury we are enjoying all thanks to Physics. Surprised? Well, you would be more surprised when you find out the complex Physics behind keeping the water insides the pipes of our homes.
Flowing water creates pressure, and once the water pressure is too much for a pipe’s tensile strength to handle it will break and release a gush of precious water. This is why it is important to regularly check the pressure of water flowing in the pipes of our homes. And just so you know, you can calculate the tensile strength and force exerted by water on pipes through the use of Physics.
• Air conditioning
Air conditioning is another work of humanity’s mind that should be thanked for, especially on a hot summer afternoon. Air conditioners work by sucking the heat and humidity out of the air inside your room. And you guessed it, Physics also plays a huge role in how an AC works.
The process is kind of complicated though so try to bear with this explanation: a refrigerant inside the AC is continuously converted from liquid to gas and vice-versa. This process cools an evaporator coil inside the AC which absorbs the heat from the air inside the house. The heat absorbed is then carried out of the house by the now liquid refrigerant. The process discussed is not the complete one and includes a lot of thermodynamics and fluid mechanics, which are both topics that fall under Physics.
• Electricity
Electricity is what powers our appliances. It is also what is stored in the batteries of our phones for it to work. But how does electricity relate to Physics? Well, on an atomic scale, electricity is essentially just free-flowing electrons that generate kinetic energy just by moving around. The energy given by these electrons are minuscule on their own but can be shocking once left unchecked.
Since even the subatomic particles particle of an atom follow the laws of Physics, we can harness the energy of these electrons for our own use. Physics is used to calculate the voltage of a current, its ampere, the surface resistance of an insulator, and other factors that may affect the safety of an individual when dealing with electricity.
• Amusement park safety
Amusement parks are where we often go when we want to relax, enjoy time with our loved ones, or just enjoy a nice and entertaining ride. Yet, who would have thought that Physics would also play a major role in amusement park safety?
Amusement parks, especially the well-renowned ones, pay great heed to the safety of their rides. And it would be inhumane to let a few individuals test the safety of a ride without prior calculations. This is where Physics comes into play.
Since the rides all follow the rules of motion; the speed, centripetal force, or even the G-force experienced by the customers can be calculated beforehand. This will allow amusement park managers to determine whether the rides are safe to be ridden or if it needs to have extra precautionary measures.
• Internet
You may not realize this, but the internet, and waves in general, are also topics covered in Physics. Your standard Wi-fi router uses radio waves to send information to and from your device. It utilizes two frequencies, namely: 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz frequencies depending on the amount of data requested.
The internet as we know it would not have been possible without a basic understanding of waves and how to utilize them to send data. Since waves travel by using the air as a medium, sending data can be a very delicate process. Physics can be used to measure the frequency, range, and bandwidth of these waves to ensure the steady flow of information from your internet provider’s servers towards your Wi-Fi router, and from your router towards the device you are using to read this article.
• Glasses
You may not realize this, but the internet, and waves in general, are also topics covered in Physics. Your standard Wi-fi router uses radio waves to send information to and from your device. It utilizes two frequencies, namely: 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz frequencies depending on the amount of data requested.
The internet as we know it would not have been possible without a basic understanding of waves and how to utilize them to send data. Since waves travel by using the air as a medium, sending data can be a very delicate process. Physics can be used to measure the frequency, range, and bandwidth of these waves to ensure the steady flow of information from your internet provider’s servers towards your Wi-Fi router, and from your router towards the device you are using to read this article.
Conclusion
Physics can be found in almost anything that provides us the luxury of living in the modern world. However, there are still much more that Physics can help humanity with. And, if this article has convinced you to learn more about Physics, then why not learn from one of the tutors from Singapore’s leading home tuition agency: FamilyTutor.
Carelle
Carelle is a teacher who has been through the ups and downs of the teacher and learner life. She wishes for every learner to gain educational satisfaction that will help embody the people they want to be in the future.
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