Summary
- Physics is not so tough
- Physics is interesting
- Some interesting facts about physics
- Physics in everyday life
Usually after your 10th grade, the first question that comes to your mind is what course to take up for 10+2. Out of the many choices available to you, science is what interests you the most.
However, physics is the subject that scares you. Will I be able to cope up with the physics syllabus? Will I be able to understand physics? All these questions might boggle your mind.
From years together, the subject physics has created unnecessary fear in the minds of students. The misconception that physics is tough must be eliminated at the school level, so that more and more students who are interested in the sciences must never be deterred from taking it up because of physics.
Physics can be fun to learn if you learn it the right way. There are so many interesting physics facts that will blow your mind.
13 Interesting Physics Facts
Here are some amazing physics facts that are so interesting and fun to know that it might just change your mind about science.
1. The Origins
Physics is a natural science that deals with the study of matter and its behaviour through space and time. It basically deals with how the universe conducts itself.
The term physics is derived from the Greek word “Physika” meaning “knowledge of nature.”
It is considered as one of the oldest sciences with some of the earliest accounts dating back to around 3000 BC where the ancient Egyptians and Indus Valley Civilisation studied about the movement of the Sun, the stars and the Moon.
2. E=mc2 Is More Relevant Today than Ever Before
Einstein’s theory of Mass Energy Equivalence is one of the most famous and interesting physics facts.
According to this theory where E is energy, M is mass and C is speed of light measured in centimetre per second, shows that energy and mass are interchangeable. That is, Energy is equal to mass times speed of light squared.
This theory of Einstein’s is actually used today in what we call Global Positioning System or GPS, which we so frequently use on our phones everyday. Proper working of GPS navigation depends on energy, mass and time.
3. Smart Phones Are Smart Because of Physics
Ever wondered why your touchscreen doesn’t work with your gloves on? You are able to slide your fingers across your smartphone screen only because of the principles of physics.
The electrons on your fingertips repel the like charged particles of the phone screen, causing the phone sensors to work according to the software program.
Even simple cell phones are based on the principles of electricity and electromagnetism.
4. Want to Lose Weight? Travel to The Moon
A cool physics fact is that the weight of a body depends on the gravitational pull of an object. You will weigh less on the Moon than on the earth because the gravitational force on the Moon is far lesser.
5. Age Is Just a Number
A crazy physics fact is that a space traveller will look younger in space than on Earth. This is because the higher the velocity the slower time passes.
Therefore, astronauts in space who are in a reduced gravitational surroundings and travelling at increased speeds are experiencing time slower than that on Earth.
6. We Are so Insignificant
Physics has taught us that mankind is so insignificant. One of the most mind blowing physics facts is that the entire mankind is made up of atoms.
Atoms are made of electrons, protons and neutrons with large spaces between them. If we put all the atoms together and remove all the species between them, the entire population can fit into a small cube. Almost the size of a sugar cube. Crazy physics facts isn’t it?
7. It’s Raining Diamonds
You can make your own diamonds. Diamonds can be made by applying high temperatures and pressure on graphite. This is one of the undiscovered and unknown facts about physics and if you work fast you can become a billionaire.
8. Don’t Know Swimming? No Problem
The Dead Sea in Jordan has a high density level due to the presence of large amounts of salt. Dead Sea – Wikipedia
Therefore, you will automatically float in the waters of the Dead Sea whether you know how to swim or not. Is this where Michael Phelps trained for the Olympics?
9. Dark Matter
Scientists are of the opinion that dark matter occupies more than 85% of the mass of the Universe. Though not visible, its existence is implied through gravitational forces and other observations.
It is believed that dark matter has a lot to do with the evolution of the universe and it is called so because it does not react with electromagnetic fields and hence can not be detected easily.
10. Seat Belt for Protection
The seatbelt you use in a car is also based on the principles of physics. Let’s see how. Putting a seat belt works on the physics principle of inertia or a state of doing nothing.
The lower part of the body attached to the car comes to a stop but the upper body falls forward. A seat belt prevents your body from moving forward. You never knew physics is involved here too, right? Cool physics facts isn’t it?
11. Smile, Your on Camera!
When you click a picture or take a selfie the camera uses the principle of physics. Here the camera uses various principles of physics to capture images.
Reflection of light, convex and concave lens, optical imaging are all sound principles of physics.
12. Doppler Effect
Ever got a ticket for over speeding? Blame it on physics. Traffic police use what is called doppler radar to detect over speeding vehicles.
The doppler radar works on the principle of the doppler effect. It measures the change in the pitch of sound when vehicles move closer or farther from the listener.
13. Ouch!
Have you ever wondered why it hurts so much when you fall a distance, but when an ant falls the same distance it doesn’t feel much?
Again, here the air around the ant acts as a cushioning agent. It almost feels the same as when we fall in water. The water acts as a cushioning agent for our body.
Physics in Everyday Life
- One of the most interesting physics facts is that we use physics everyday in our lives. Every part of our life is governed by the principles of physics. From getting up in the morning to getting ready and travelling to college, all use some form of physics.
- When your alarm clock rings and you hear the chiming sounds, have you ever wondered how the sound has travelled from the clock to your ears? Yes, it’s through the principles of physics. How sound travels through air, it’s speed and other factors are all dealt with through the subject of physics
- While you cook up a nice meal on your gas stove or heat up your coffee in the microwave, all work on the principles of heat exchange studied in physics.
- Walking to your college in the morning, you are able to get a good grip on the road because of friction of the materials in contact. That is why it is easier to walk on a tarred road than on ice which has low levels of friction. Here, the principles of motion, friction and force all come into play. Physics deals with all these daily activities.
- Your daily chores are made easier now with the appliances like a grinder, mixer, microwave and washing machines. All these appliances use various principles of physics to perform specific tasks. Aren’t these such interesting physics facts?
- While opening a swinging door, you must have realised that applying force close to the hinges makes it tough to open the door, but as you push away from the hinges, the door opens easily. Here the physics application of torque comes into play. Torque is the force that causes rotation.
- When you leave a water bottle to be filled up by the water dispenser, you know when it is getting full even without looking at it. How? Well, here, as the water level increases, the air column in the bottle decreases and there will be a change in the pitch of sound. The sound is related to the amount of vibrating air in the unfilled part of the bottle. Again, a cool physics fact?
Some Fun Physics Facts Which Will Tickle Your Brain Cells
- Have you noticed your friendly neighbourhood cat on the rooftop? Have you ever wondered how it almost always amazingly lands on its feet even when jumping or falling from great heights? Well, physics has the answer for that. Cats have an in built balancing system called righting reflex. This is the ability of cats to turn the right way while they are falling.
- Did you know there is a point where water can boil and freeze at the same time? This is called triple point and it occurs when factors like pressure temperature are at the optimum levels for all three forms of water.
- The planet Uranus is the only planet in the Solar system that rolls on its side rather than spinning like the Earth. Scientists explain that a massive collision back in the ages could have caused Uranus to flip on its side.
- You know that gravity is the force that attracts the body to the centre of the Earth. However, did you know that water can defy gravity by traveling upwards through what is known as capillary action. This explains how roots of a plant absorb water and minerals from the soil and transport it through the stem to other parts of the plant.
- Laser lights are known for their far reaching properties but it is also possible to trap a laser light in water. This is possible because of the properties of physics and the effects of total internal reflection.
- Light from the Planet Earth takes only 1.255 to reach its natural satellite, the Moon.
Conclusion
Physics can be fun after all. It’s not all rocket science as portrayed by many. There are so many fun and interesting physics facts that attract you to learn more about the subject.
Physics helps to understand the world around us. More so, Physics is a gateway to many lucrative career options.
