Introduction to modern physics

Introduction to modern physics

1. Concepts

   • Special theory of relativity
     • Relativity connects space and time, matter and energy, electricity and magnetism
       • apply equally in all inertial frames
       • speed of light (c) is constant for all inertial frames
   • Special theory of relativity
     • inertial frame
       • a frame in which the objects remain at rest or moving at constant speed
   • Lorentz transformation
     • how to relate space-time coordinates of an event with an inertial reference frame

2. Time Dilation and Length Contraction

   • At speed of light things change
     • the speed of light is the same for all observers in different frames of reference

3. Time dilation

   • Every time that time intervals between events (happening at speeds near the speed of light) are compared and measured by observers in different inertial reference frames, the concept of time dilation is used.

4. Length contraction

   • When objects move at speeds closer to the speed of light they will contract
     • relativity of simultaneous measurements can have powerful consequences when an object approximates to the speed of light

5. Mass-energy Relation and Basic Principles of Quantum Physics

   • Albert Einstein was the one who expressed on a formula the relation between mass and energy, this equation is probably the most know physics equation and yet little understood.
     • mass-energy relation states that mass can be converted to energy and energy to mass

6. Quantum theory, waves and particles

   • Electromagnetic radiation has a dual character in its interaction with mass,

7. Black body radiation

   • Planck proposed that electromagnetic energy is absorbed by photons and that it is proportional to the radiation frequency
     • every particle has a wave nature

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