ContentsIntroduction vi

1: Physics and physical measurement 11.1 The realm of physics 1

1.2 Measurement and uncertainties 3

1.3 Vectors and scalars 10

2: Mechanics 152.1 Kinematics 15

2.2 Forces and dynamics 25

2.3 Work, energy and power 33

2.4 Uniform circular motion 40

3: Thermal physics 503.1 Thermal concepts 50

3.2 Thermal properties of matter 55

3.3 Kinetic model of an ideal gas 62

4: Simple harmonic motion and waves 704.1 Kinematics of simple harmonic motion 70

4.2 Energy changes during simple harmonic motion (SHM) 78

4.3 Forced oscillations and resonance 80

4.4 Wave characteristics 85

4.5 Wave properties 92

5: Electrical currents 1035.1 Electric potential difference, current and resistance 103

5.2 Electric circuits 110

6: Fields and forces 1276.1 Gravitational force and field 127

6.2 Electric force and field 132

6.3 Magnetic force and field 137

7: Atomic and nuclear physics 1447.1 The atom 144

7.2 Nuclear structure 149

7.3 Radioactive decay 154

7.4 Half-life 160

7.5 Nuclear reactions 162

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Contents

8: Energy, power and climate change 169

8.1 Energy degradation and power generation 169

8.2 World energy sources 173

8.3 Fossil fuel power production 177

8.4 Nuclear power 181

8.5 Solar power 189

8.6 Hydroelectric power 191

8.7 Wind power 194

8.8 Wave power 196

8.9 The greenhouse effect 198

8.10 Global warming 205

8.11 What might happen and what can be done? 209

9: Sight and wave phenomena 215

9.1 The eye and sight 215

9.2 Standing (stationary) waves 219

9.3 The Doppler effect 223

9.4 Diffraction 226

9.5 Resolution 228

9.6 Polarization 231

10: Quantum physics and nuclear physics 239

10.1 Quantum physics 239

10.2 Nuclear physics 254

11: Digital technology 263

11.1 Analogue and digital signals 263

11.2 Data capture; digital imaging 275

11.3 Electronics 281

11.4 The mobile phone system 288

12: Relativity and particle physics 293

12.1 Introduction to relativity 293

12.2 Concepts and postulates of special relativity 295

12.3 Relativistic kinematics 297

12.4 Description and classification of particles 303

12.5 Fundamental interactions 306

12.6 Quarks 314

12.7 Feynmann diagrams 318

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13: Astrophysics 325

13.1 Introduction to the universe 325

13.2 Stellar radiation and stellar types 329

13.3 Stellar distances 337

13.4 Cosmology 343

14: Radio communication 351

14.1 Radio communication 351

14.2 Digital signals 359

14.3 Optic fibre transmission 367

14.4 Channels of communication 372

15: Electromagnetic waves 380

15.1 The nature of EM waves and light sources 380

15.2 Two-source interference of waves 390

15.3Diffraction grating 394

15.4 Lenses and image formation 396

15.5 Optical instruments 402

15.6 Aberrations 409

16: Theory of knowledge 414

Internal assessment 424

Extended essay 430

Answers 433

Index 441

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