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Georgia Tech Student Wiki for Introductory Physics.
This resource was created so that students can contribute and curate content to help those with limited or no access to a textbook. When reading this website, please correct any errors you may come across. If you read something that isn't clear, please consider revising it for future students!
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Source Material
All of the content added to this resource must be in the public domain or similar free resource. If you are unsure about a source, contact the original author for permission. That said, there is a surprisingly large amount of introductory physics content scattered across the web. Here is an incomplete list of intro physics resources (please update as needed).
- A physics resource written by experts for an expert audience Physics Portal
- A wiki written for students by a physics expert MSU Physics Wiki
- A wiki book on modern physics Modern Physics Wiki
- A collection of 26 volumes of lecture notes by Prof. Wheeler of Reed College [1]
- The MIT open courseware for intro physics MITOCW Wiki
- An online concept map of intro physics HyperPhysics
- Interactive physics simulations PhET
- OpenStax intro physics textbooks: Vol1, Vol2, Vol3
- The Open Source Physics project is a collection of online physics resources OSP
- A resource guide compiled by the AAPT for educators ComPADRE
- The Feynman lectures on physics are free to read Feynman
- Final Study Guide for Modern Physics II created by a lab TA Modern Physics II Final Study Guide
Resources
- Commonly used wiki commands Wiki Cheatsheet
- A guide to representing equations in math mode Wiki Math Mode
- A page to keep track of all the physics Constants
- A listing of Notable Scientist with links to their individual pages
Physics 1
Week 1
GlowScript 101
VPython
Interactions
Velocity and Momentum
Week 2
Momentum and the Momentum Principle
Iterative Prediction with a Constant Force
Week 3
Analytic Prediction with a Constant Force
Iterative Prediction with a Varying Force
Week 4
Fundamental Interactions
Week 5
Properties of Matter
Week 6
Identifying Forces
Isabel Hollhumer F24
Week 7
Jeet Bhatkar
Energy Principle
The Energy Principle is a fundamental concept in physics that describes the relationship between different forms of energy and their conservation within a system. Understanding the Energy Principle is crucial for analyzing the motion and interactions of objects in various physical scenarios.
Kinetic energy is the energy an object possesses due to its motion.
Potential energy arises from the position of an object relative to its surroundings. Common forms of potential energy include gravitational potential energy and elastic potential energy.
Work and energy are closely related concepts. Work ( 𝑊) done on an object is defined as the force ( 𝐹) applied to the object multiplied by the displacement ( 𝑑) of the object in the direction of the force: The Energy Principle states that the total mechanical energy of a system remains constant if only conservative forces (forces that depend only on the positions of the objects) are acting on the system.
The principle of conservation of energy states that the total energy of an isolated system remains constant over time. In other words, energy cannot be created or destroyed, only transformed from one form to another. This principle is a fundamental concept in physics and has wide-ranging applications in mechanics, thermodynamics, and other branches of science.
Week 8
Work by Non-Constant Forces
Potential Energy
Week 9
Multiparticle Systems
Week 10
Choice of System
Thermal Energy, Dissipation, and Transfer of Energy
Rotational and Vibrational Energy
Week 11
Different Models of a System
Friction
Week 12
Conservation of Momentum
Collisions
Week 13
Rotations
Angular Momentum
Week 14
Analyzing Motion with and without Torque
Week 15
Introduction to Quantum Concepts
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Introduction to Quantum Concepts
A beginner-friendly guide to the essentials of quantum mechanics.
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Table of Contents
- <a href="#bohr-model">The Bohr Model</a>
- <a href="#energy-graphs">Energy Graphs and the Bohr Model</a>
- <a href="#quantized-levels">Quantized Energy Levels</a>
- <a href="#electron-transitions">Electron Transitions</a>
- <a href="#entropy">Entropy</a>
The Bohr Model
In 1913, Niels Bohr proposed a model for the atom that was revolutionary at the time. Unlike previous models, Bohr suggested that electrons orbit the nucleus in distinct, quantized orbits, rather than moving freely.
Key Features:
- Quantized Orbits: Electrons occupy specific energy levels, preventing them from spiraling into the nucleus.
- Energy Absorption and Emission: Electrons absorb energy to jump to a higher level or emit energy to drop to a lower one.
<img src="bohr-model-diagram.png" alt="Bohr Model Diagram">
Figure 1: Visualization of the quantized orbits of electrons in the Bohr Model.
Energy Graphs and the Bohr Model
Energy levels in atoms can be visualized using graphs where the y-axis represents energy and the x-axis is arbitrary. Each level corresponds to a quantized energy state, with the ground state being the lowest.
Interactive Exploration:
Use the following computational model to observe electron transitions between energy levels dynamically:
[Placeholder for an interactive energy graph model]
Quantized Energy Levels
One of the most groundbreaking discoveries in quantum mechanics is the idea of quantization. Electrons can only exist at specific energy levels, described by a principal quantum number \( n \).
Formula for Energy Levels (Hydrogen Atom):
\[ E_n = -\frac{13.6 \, \text{eV}}{n^2} \]
where \( n \) is the principal quantum number. This formula shows that energy decreases as \( n \) increases.
Electron Transitions
Electron transitions between energy levels result in the absorption or emission of light. This phenomenon is the basis of spectroscopy, a key tool in understanding atomic structures.
Types of Transitions:
- Absorption: Electrons absorb photons to move to a higher energy level.
- Emission: Electrons release photons when falling to a lower energy level.
<img src="electron-transition.png" alt="Electron Transitions">
Figure 2: Diagram showing the absorption and emission of photons during electron transitions.
Entropy
In quantum mechanics, entropy is a measure of the uncertainty or randomness in a system. Higher entropy generally corresponds to a system with more possible configurations.
For example, consider a particle in a box. The more energy levels available to the particle, the higher its entropy, as there are more possible states it can occupy.
Entropy also plays a role in understanding the distribution of particles in quantum systems, particularly in thermodynamics and statistical mechanics.
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