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1.1 What is Physics?
Why do ships float? Why do we study Physics?
Why does a rainbow When we examine the world we live in, we begin to question it to find
form in the sky? How explanations to what we experience in our daily lives. Until relatively
does sound work? recently, people used to make everything themselves. They sewed their
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own clothes and footwear and built their houses from wood or clay, but
now we use different materials. We used to ride horses to travel from
one place to another but now we use cars and airplanes. Many things
that are familiar to us have changed dramatically over the years. Why
and how do you think this has happened?
All these advances in new technologies have become possible due
to the progress humans have made while studying the natural world
in which we live. Physics focuses on studying physical phenomena
in nature and trying to explain them. It considers interactions
between matter and energy. What are all the objects around us? What
things happen to them? How do they change? These are the kinds of
questions that Physics can help to answer.
Understanding the physical world
Physical phenomena are processes occurring with physical bodies
or objects (matter) and their interaction with the world around
them, particularly in the transfer of energy. (We will learn more about
energy throughout Grade 7.) For example: when placed in hot water,
the temperature of a spoon changes; when placed in a freezer, water
changes shape and becomes a solid; objects move when we push
them, but they soon slow down and stop; and when lightning strikes,
we sometimes see light and hear a sound (thunder). How can we
explain these phenomena?
All the things that happen to physical bodies are referred to as
physical phenomena. Physical phenomena can be divided into types.
For example, if bodies move relative to each other, these are called
mechanical phenomena. If we observe the result of interactions
between electrical charges, these are called electrical phenomena.
Thermal phenomena are observed when the temperature of
bodies changes. Optical phenomena are those linked
with the behaviour of light. Sound phenomena are
associated with the biological sense of hearing in
different animals.
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