What Is Physics And What Is Its Application In Production Of Energy?
The universe is composed of matter and energy. This energy is conserved, i.e. it is neither created nor destroyed, but it can convert from one form to other form, according law of conservation of energy. The physics determines routs to convert the available energy to the form which is useful for human being. The following article throw light on the conversion of energy.
Definition of Physics
Physics is a branch of science which deals with the study of matter and energy and conversion of matter into energy and vice versa. Meaning of physics is Nature according Greek philosophy, it is explained in such a way the related to physical world or exist in the universe. Hence physics is mother of all the sciences, i.e. every action in the physical world takes place by laws of physics. But during 16th century as the science go on broaden due to inventions and discoveries different disciplines of natural sciences emerged as unique programmes hence physics constrained to the study of the matter and conversion of matter into useful energy.Conversion of matter into energy
In nature the matter and energy inter-convertible and works according to Einstein's famous mass energy relation E = mc^2., naturally it go on taking place without any disturbance. For example light, heat are two different forms of energy, in Sun, matter(sun is made of hydrogen and helium with the traces of other elements) is continuously convert from other form with giving out the heat in the form of radiation and light. In candle the the oil burns to give energy in the form of heat and light. The burning of petrol and diesel gives rise to mechanical energy to the vehicles with the emission of heat. Interconversion of one form of energy to other form
Energy can also convert from one form to other form, when we rub our palms together heat will develop, in this case friction (mechanical energy) between the palms convert into heat. If a stone allowed to fall freely from certain height it gains kinetic energy by loosing potential energy (with increase in height above earth surface potential energy of a body increases). This principle is used in the production of electricity in Hydro electric power station, in which large quantity water from the reservoir stored at certain height(having high potential energy) made to rush down under the action of gravity, allowed to fall on the teeth of large turbine at its one end so that kinetic energy gained by the water transferred to turbine and acquire rotational kinetic energy. Other end of turbine contain solenoid which is also rotate between huge electromagnet, this action produces electricity according to the laws of electromagnetic induction.
Similarly the nuclear energy can produce heat, intern hear create pressure energy via water vapour, that rotates the turbines to produce electricity. Same process also takes place in case of thermal power stations.Solar power
In solar power stations the process is quite different. The electricity produces in solar cells using photovoltaic cells. Solar photovoltaic cells which are made of thin sheets of semiconducting materials coated on the metal sheets on which a thin transparent coating is made. When light focused on the cells the breaking of covalent bonds of solar cell semiconducting atom produces free electric carriers hence electricity is produced. In this case the light energy transferred to semiconducting material converts in binding energy and electric carriers gains kinetic energy.
Like this one can give number of example for the conversion one form of energy to another form. This conversion takes place according to famous law of conservation energy. which states that energy neighter created nor destroyed, but converts from one form to other form. This is true for every bodies from macroscopic to microscopic and from Sun to smallest atom.
In early stage, the creation and current status of universe is studied by help of mathematical calculations, Astronomy is one of oldest branch of physics that concept is studied since more than two millennia, many people including astronomers Galileo, Sir Isaac Newton, Archimedes invented many things in physics. The Isaac Newton developed the famous "Newton's three laws of motion" only according to these principles motion any body takes place in universe, he also developed "Universal law of gravitation" to understand the motion of celestial bodies.Classical and Modern Physics
As said above, the research and invention those taken place earlier to 19th century are all on the bases of mathematical model, for example newton's laws of motion. The physics which studied on the basis of Newton's laws of motion is called as Classical Mechanics or Classical Physics. This discipline gave excellent results in case of motion related to macroscopic bodies, i.e. motion of planets, satellites, vehicles etc. But the classical mechanics failed give good result for the behaviour of microscopic particles like atoms, molecules etc.
The emission of light or heat radiation from an object, electric properties of materials(conductor, semiconductor and insulator) depending of properties of electrons in the materials. The classical mechanics fails explain the things namely, black body radiation, photoelectric effect, stability of atoms etc. Considering limitation of classical mechanics, the people determined another dimension of physics called Quantum Mechanics.
The quantum mechanics start with proving light as the stream of particles, by Plank theory of Radiations. Which states that light contains called stream of particles of discreet pattern of energy called as photons, energy unit of photon is called as quanta.
In continuing this another physicist de-Broglie proved that, nature like symmetry as if the light originally have wave nature, behaves as particle nature, then entities those behave as particle naturally also behave as wave nature under spacial circumstances. So that the motion of microscopic matters is studied using wave theory and is called as wave mechanics. Many people contributed for this to name few, Irvin Schrodinger, Heisenberg, Hamiltonian, etc.
Now a days the material for the device fabrication in engineering is completely based on the quantum mechanics and the things like space exploration, automobiles and machinery are based on the Newtonian mechanics.
Reference: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Physics