Physical Science Topics
Correlation of topics and the Physical Science
Table of Contents.
- 01 Measurement
- 01:01 The Senses
- 01:02 Concepts and Fundamental Quantities
- Length, mass, time, electric charge
- 01:03 Standard Units
- Metric (mks and cgs) and English
- 01:04 Derived Quantities and Conversion Factors
- Area, volume, speed, density, etc.
- 01:05 Measurement of Circles
- 01:06 Experimental Error
- 01:07 Scientific Notation
- 01:08 Measuring Instruments
- Measuring length, mass, volume, temperature
- 01:09 Safety in the Laboratory
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- 02 Motion
- 02:01 Straight-Line Motion
- Vector vs scalar
- Position vs distance
- 02:02 Speed and Velocity
- Velocity vs speed
- Average vs instantaneous velocity
- 02:03 Acceleration
- Velocity changes
- Acceleration of gravity
- 02:04 Acceleration in Uniform Circular Motion
- 02:05 Projectile Motion
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- 03 Force and Motion
- 03:01 Newton's First Law of Motion
- Motion and inertia
- Unbalanced forces
- 03:02 Newton's Second Law of Motion
- Mass and weight
- Forces acting on a single object
- 03:03 Newton's Law of Gravitation
- 03:04 Newton's Third Law of Motion
- Equal and opposite forces on two objects
- 03:05 Momentum
- Linear momentum
- Angular momentum
- Conservation of momentum
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- 04 Work and Energy
- 04:01 Work
- Work against inertia
- Work against gravity
- Work against friction
- 04:02 Power
- 04:03 Kinetic Energy and Potential Energy
- 04:04 Conservation of Energy
- 04:05 Forms and Sources of Energy
- Mechanical, Chemical, Heat, Electromagnetic, Nuclear
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- 05 Temperature and Heat
- 05:01 Temperature
- Fahrenheit, Celsius, and Kelvin scales
- 05:02 Heat
- 05:03 Specific Heat and Latent Heat
- Heat of fusion
- Heat of vaporization
- Phase changes
- 05:04 Thermodynamics
- First, Second, and Third Laws of Thermodynamics
- Heat engines and heat pumps
- Entropy
- 05:05 Heat Transfer
- Convection and Conduction
- Radiation
- 05:06 Phases
of Matter
- Solid, liquid, gas, plasma
- 05:07 The Gas Laws and Kinetic Theory
- Pressure
- Isothermal process
- Ideal Gas Law
- Isobaric process
- Isometric process
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- 06 Waves
- 06:01 Wave Properties
- Velocity
- Longitudinal and transverse waves
- Period, frequency, and wavelength
- 06:02 Electromagnetic
Waves
- Radio, micro, infared, visible, UV, Gamma waves
- Speed of light
- 06:03 Sound Waves
- Compression and rarefaction
- Loudness, intensity, and pitch
- Ultrasound
- The ear
- 06:04 Standing Waves and Resonance
- Nodes and antinodes
- Harmonics and resonance
- Octaves
- 06:05 The Doppler Effect
- 07 Wave Effects
- 07:01 Reflection
- 07:02 Refraction and Dispersion
- Index of refraction
- Total internal reflection and fiber optics
- Dispersion and spectroscopy
- 07:03 Diffraction, Interference, and Polarization
- Diffraction and geometric optics
- Constructive and destructive interference
- Polarization
- 07:04 Spherical Mirrors
- Focal length
- Converging and diverging mirrors
- Real and virtual images
- Spherical mirror equation
- Magnification
- 07:05 Lenses
- Converging and diverging lenses
- Thin lens equation
- Magnification
- The eye
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- 08 Electricity and Magnetism
- 08:01 Electric Charge
- Electrons, protons and neutrons
- Static charges and electric fields
- Coulomb's Law
- Conductors and insulators
- 08:02 Electricity
- Electric potential energy and
- Current and Ohm's Law
- Power in electric circuits
- Direct and alternating current
- Series and parallel circuits
- Electrical safety
- 08:03 Magnetism
- Attraction and repulsion
- Magnetic field
- Ferromagnets and the Curie temperature
- Magnetic declination and magnetic dip
- Electrical safety
- 08:04 Electromagnetism
- Electromatnets
- Magnetic force and moving electrical charges
- Motors and generators
- Transformers
- 08:05 Electronics
- Cathode ray tube
- Diodes and transistors
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- 09 Atomic Physics
- 09:01 The Dual Nature of Light
- Photoelectric effect and photons
- 09:02 The Bohr Theory of the Hydrogen Atom
- Quantum number n
- Electron volt
- 09:03 Quantum-Physics Applications
- Microwave cooking
- Lasers and coherent light
- X-rays
- 09:04 Matter Waves and Quantum Mechanics
- de Broglie waves
- Schrodinger equation
- Heisenberg's uncertainty principal
- 09:05 Atomic Quantum Numbers
- Orbital quantum number l
- Magnetic quantum number m
- Spin quantum number ms
- 09:06 Multielectron Atoms and the Periodic Table
- Energy level ordering
- Pauli exclusin principle
- Electron configuration, subshells, eriods
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- 10 Nuclear
Physics
- 10:01 The Atomic Nucleus
- Electromagnetic force (on electrons)
- Strong nuclear force
- Isotopes
- 10:02 Nuclear Stability
- Pairing effect
- Atomic mass unit and atomic weight
- Bonding energy
- 10:03 Radioactive Decay
- Radioactive nuclei
- Alpha, beta, and gamma decay
- Half-life and carbon dating
- 10:04 Nuclear
Reactions
- Particle accelerators
- Endoergic and exoergic reactions
- 10:05 Fission and Fusion
- Chain reactions and critical mass
- Nuclear and breeder reactors
- Thermonuclear reactions and confinements
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- 11 The Periodic Table
- 11:01 Elements
- Elements and molecules
- Isotopes
- Atomic number and atomic mass
- 11:02 The Periodic Table
- 11:03 Classification of Elements
- Valence shell
- Metals, nonmetals, metalloids, transition elements
- 11:04 Periodic Characteristics
- Size of atoms
- Valence
- Ionization potential
- 11:05 Groups of Elements
- Size of atoms
- Noble Gases, alkali metals, halogens, alkaline Earths
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- 12 Compounds, Molecules,
and Ions
- 12:01 Principles of Compound Formation
- Mixtures, compounds and molecules
- Octet rule
- 12:02 Ionic Compounds
- Electron affinity
- Lewis dot figures
- 12:03 Properties of Ionic Compounds
- High boiling and melting points
- Mostly polar bonds
- Crystals
- Electrical conduction
- Oxidation, reduction, and electrolysis
- 12:04 Covalent Compounds
- Polyatomic compounds
- Carbon compounds
- 12:05 Properties of Covalent Compounds
- Low melting and boiling points
- Polar and nonpolar bonds
- 12:06 Oxidation Number
- 12:07 Naming Compounds
- Binary compounds
- Complex ions
- Prefixes
- 12:08 Carbon and Some Simple Organic Compounds
- Carbon chains: Alkanes, alkenes, and alkynes
- Cyclic hydrocarbons
- Isomers
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- 13 Some Chemical Principles
- 13:01 Types of Matter
- Homogeneous and heterogeneous
- Pure substances and compounds
- Mixtures and solutions
- Physical and chemical properties
- 13:02 Early Chemical Laws
- Conservation of mass
- Definite proportions
- Multiple proportions
- 13:03 Atomic and Molecular Weights
- Gram atomic weight
- Mole
- Formula weight and gram formula weight
- Molecular weight and gram molecular weight
- Percentage composition
- 13:04 Molecular Volumes
- Gut-Lussac's law of combininb volumes
- Avogadro's law
- Gram molecular volume
- 13:05 Avogadro's Number
- 13:06 Solutions
- Dilute, concentrated, and saturated solutions
- molarity
- Solubility
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- 14 Chemical Reactions
- 14:01 Basic Concepts
- Reactants and products
- Balancing Equations (atoms and charges)
- 14:02 Energy and Rate of Reaction
- Exothermic and endothermic reactions
- Activation energy and catalysts
- 14:03 Oxidation-Reduction Reactions
- 14:04 Electrochemical Reactions
- Electrolytes
- Electrochemical cells
- 14:05 Acids and Bases
- Bronsted-Lowry theory
- Conjugate acids and bases
- Salts
- 14:06 Acids and Bases in Solution
- Acidic, neutral, alkaline solutions
- pH
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- 15 Complex Molecules
- 15:01 Common Organic Compounds
- Monomers and polymers
- Alkyl halides
- alcohols
- organic (carboxylic) acids
- Esters
- 15:02 Biochemistry
- Carbohydrates, starch, cellulose, proteins
- Lipids (waxes, detergents)
- Nucleic acids (DNA and RNA)
- Vitamins
- 15:03 The Ingredients of Life and the Genetic
Code
- Miller-Urey experiment
- Mitosis and meiosis
- Genetic code
- 15:04 Artificial Molecules--Plastics
- Synthetics
- Plastics, Teflos, silicones
- 15:05 Drugs
- Analgesics, antibiotics, alkaloids
- Narcotics, psychedelics
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- 16 The Solar System
- 16:01 The Planet Earth
- Ecliptic orbit
- Rotation on the axis
- Foucault pendulum
- Parallax
- 16:02 The Solar System
- Geocentric and heliocentric theories
- Kepler's Laws
- Astronomical unit
- Sidereal and synodic periods
- 16:03 The Inner Planets
- Mercury, Venus, Mars
- Asteroid belt
- 16:04 The Outer Planets
- Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, Pluto
- Planet X, comets, meteors
- 16:05 The Origin of the Solar System
- Catastrophe, evolutionary, protoplanet theories
- 16:06 Other Solar Systems
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- 17 Place and Time
- 17:01 Cartesian Coordinates
- 17:02 Latitude and Longitude
- Meridians and the parallels
- Greenwich meridian
- 17:03 Time
- Apparent and mean solar day
- Sidereal day
- Standard time zones
- International Date Line
- 17:04 The Seasons
- Tropical year
- Sunner and winter solstice
- Vernal and autumnal equinoxes
- 17:05 Precession of the Earth's Axis
- 17:06 The Calendar
- Julian and Gregorian calendars
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- 18 The Moon
- 18:01 General Features
- 18:02 History of the Moon
- 18:03 Lunar Motion
- 18:04 Phases
- Waxing and waning phases
- Crescent and gibbous moon
- 18:05 Eclipses
- Umbra and penumbra
- Total and partial eclipse
- 18:06 Tides
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- 19 The Universe
- 19:01 The Sun
- 19:02 The Celestial Sphere
- Declination and right ascension
- Zodiac
- 19:03 Stars
- Magnitudes of brightness
- Novas
- Neutron stars
- 19:04 Gravitational Collapse and Black Holes
- 19:05 Galaxies
- 19:06 Quasars
- 19:07 Cosmology
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- 20 The Atmosphere
- 20:01 Composition
- 20:02 Origin
- 20:03 Vertical Structure
- Density and pressure
- Temperature
- Ozone and ion concentrations
- Northern and southern lights
- 20:04 Energy Content
- Solar radiation
- Scattering
- Greenhouse effect
- Condensation and conduction
- 20:05 Atmospheric Measurements
- Temperature, pressure and humidity
- Wind speed and direction
- Precipitation
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- 21 Winds and Clouds
- 21:01 Causes of Air Motion
- Isobars
- Thermal circulation
- Coroilis force
- Friction
- 21:02 Local Winds and World Circulation
- Wind-chill factor
- Sea and land breezes
- Monsoons and chinooks
- Trade winds, westerlies, and polar easterlies
- 21:03 Jet Streams
- 21:04 Cloud Classification
- Cirrus, cumulus, stratus and nimbus
- High, middle, and low clouds
- 21:05 Cloud Formation
- Condensation and temperature inversions
- 21:06 Condensation and Precipitation
- Supersaturation or supercooling
- Coalensence
- Rain, snow, sleet,hail, dew, frost
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- 22 Air Masses and Storms
- 22:01 Air Mases
- 22:02 Fronts and Cyclonic Disturbances
- Warm and cold front
- Frontal zones
- 22:03 Local Storms
- Rainstorms, thunderstorms, ice and snowstorms, tornadoes
- 22:04 Tropical Storms
- Hurricanes, typhoons and cyclones
- Storm surges
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- 23 Weather Forecasting
- 23:01 The National Weather Service
- 23:02 Data Collection and Weather Observation
- Maximum and minimum thermometers
- Rain guages
- Radar
- Satellites
- 23:03 Weather maps
- 23:04 Folklore and the Weather
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- 24 Pollution and Climate
- 24:01 Pollutants
- Air pollutants--smog, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides
- Fuel impurities--sulfur dioxide, acid rain
- Land and water pollutants--solid waste, littering
- 24:02 Sources of Pollution
- Air
- Water (agricultural, industrial, domestic)
- 24:03 The Cost of Pollution
- Weathering of structures
- Sewage treatment
- 24:04 Pollution, Weather, and Climate
- Heat-island effrect and dust dome
- El Nino
- Volcanic eruptions
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- 25 Minerals and Rocks
- 25:01 Minerals
- 25:02 Rocks
- 25:03 Igneous Rock
- Extrusive and intrusive rock
- 25:04 Igneous Activity
- Bases, lava and pyroclastic debris
- 25:05 Sedimentary Rocks
- 25:06 Metamorphic Rocks
- Thermal, dynamic, regional, and hydrothermal metamorphism
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- 26 Structural Geology
- 26:01 Earthquakes and Structural Geology
- Seismology
- Faults and seismic waves
- Tsunamis
- Core, mantle, and crust
- 26:02 Continental Drift and Seafloor Spreading
- Pangaea
- Seafloor spreading
- 26:03 Plate Tectonics
- Divergent, convergent, and transform boundaries
- Convection cells
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- 27 Isostasy and Diastrophism
- 27:01 Isostasy
- 27:02 Rock Deformation
- 27:03 Mountain Building
- Volcanic, fault-block and folded mountains
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- 28 Geological Time
- 28:01 Relative Geologic Time
- Eras, periods, epochs, and ages
- 28:02 Absolute (Atomic) Geologic Time
- 28:03 Geologic Time Scale
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- 29 Surface Processes
- 29:01 Weathering and Mass Wasting
- Physical and chemical weathering
- Landslides, slumps and mudflows
- 29:02 Agents of Erosion
- Running water, ice, wind, waves
- 29:03 Earth's Water Supply
- Hydrologic cycle
- Permeability
- Aquifers and water tables
- 29:04 The Oceans and Seafloor Topography
- Salinity
- Surface waves and currents
- Seamounts, seafloor trenches, abyssal plains
- Continental shelves and slopes
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Last update 03/25/04
email: patsymc@physics.utexas.edu