How does physics relate to every day life?

Question

How does physics relate to every day life? Are there any examples? The weirder...the better.

Thanks.

are there - pesta, Jan 20, 2011

I'm asking this question because I'm doing the International Baccalaureate and as part of the course I have to do an extended essay- a research paper of 4,000 words through independent research or investigation on a topic. I've chosen Physics.... - johndoe04, Jan 20, 2011

but I'm not sure which topic specifically. I mean...my initial idea was to conduct an investigation on something along the lines of different guitar string materials with the proportion to sound and therefore tension, but I want to do something which - johndoe04, Jan 20, 2011

affects us all everyday. A friend of mine is looking at physics with regards to football (soccer to our American friends) and trajectories of different balls. I really do appreciate your answers....and I just want to say that this is not a homework - johndoe04, Jan 20, 2011

question...because I just need help with an idea....I've got 'writers block', and a really bad one at that. Thank you all a lot!! - johndoe04, Jan 20, 2011

What kind of Physics do you want to work on: Newtonian, mechanical physics, nuclear physycs, quantum physics...? - Gekkosan, Jan 20, 2011

Answer 1

As a former astrophysics major, almost physics teacher, and full-time engineer who designs G P S receivers, I'm not sure where to begin. Physics influences every single aspect of the Universe. It describes how every single thing works, up to and including how the Universe came into being. There is nothing that physics doesn't relate to. At the very least every single machine you touch was designed by guys using the principles of physics. If the guys designing the buildings and bridges around you didn't use physics they would have a nasty tendency to fall down. I'm going to have to stop now, before I develop a rant.

Kev, can you help me with my GPS issue, alluded to in my post? - afowen, Jan 20, 2011

No...carry on!! It's interesting!!! - johndoe04, Jan 20, 2011

I mean, my GPS don't seem to work at anything over 0.5 C, can you help? - afowen, Jan 20, 2011

We actually do have to compensate for relatavistic effects for G P S calculations. The satellites are moving pretty quickly in a gravity field, and Uncle Albert nailed that one. - KevinB, Jan 20, 2011

In your case at 0.5 C the satellite signals have probably dopplered out of your receiver's acquisition range. - KevinB, Jan 20, 2011

Yeah, that is what my mate Dave said. I was looking for a some kind of software to compensate... - afowen, Jan 20, 2011

It can be done. We do it all the time when we're analyzing spectra of distant quasars. When your relative velocity is approaching that of the radio wave you're trying to receive it gets a bit tricky, though. - KevinB, Jan 20, 2011

I studied physics and found many of its aspects oh so fascinating, maybe I should subscribe to New Scientist or something to try and keep me engaged... - afowen, Jan 21, 2011

Answer 2

Never leave a question unanswered on a test! jajajaja

x=1.47 m - lazarus1907, Jan 20, 2011

I've seen that one!! - Seb79, Jan 20, 2011

Don't forget that we might say "might have" and "might of" the same way, but we can't write them the same way. ;-) - Stadt, Jan 20, 2011

You might have helped several students with that answer, lazarus. - Brynleigh, Jan 20, 2011

Thanks, Stadt. - Brynleigh, Jan 20, 2011

I catch myself doing the same all the time. - Stadt, Jan 20, 2011

Answer 3

Opening a door from the nearest spot to the hinges. It is difficult, isn't it? It is because of the MOMENTUM.

Why does it take longer to boil a cup of water without a lid over the pot? Air pressure.

Why do you think the rain drops aren't like bullets or just like a flood? It's because of the FRICTION.

Why do we pour a little less water in a bottle if we're going to freeze it? Because while water's freezing it's volume gets larger.

Science is all about daily life.

Answer 4

I'm asking this question because I'm doing the International Baccalaureate and as part of the course I have to do an extended essay- a research paper of 4,000 words through independent research or investigation on a topic. I've chosen Physics....but I'm not sure which topic specifically. I mean...my initial idea was to conduct an investigation on something along the lines of different guitar string materials with the proportion to sound and therefore tension, but I want to do something which affects us all everyday. A friend of mine is looking at physics with regards to football (soccer to our American friends) and trajectories of different balls. I really do appreciate your answers....and I just want to say that this is not a homework question...because I just need help with an idea....I've got 'writers block', and a really bad one at that.

Thank you all a lot!!

As a Senior Global Navigation Satellite System Firmware Engineer I would suggest writing a paper on G P S navigation. - KevinB, Jan 20, 2011

Quite a mouthful...:) - johndoe04, Jan 21, 2011

Answer 5

'What kind of Physics do you want to work on: Newtonian, mechanical physics, nuclear physycs, quantum physics...?'

I'd like to work on an aspect of quantum physics. It's seems very interesting. Thanks Gekkosan.

Answer 6

Please.....any ideas? See my recent post.

Thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I believe you mean "comments". You want people to look at your comments at the opening of your thread, so that we understand your requiremts better. That certainly helps us to offer you the ideas you need. :) - Gekkosan, Jan 20, 2011

Thank you for being so pacient. :) - johndoe04, Jan 20, 2011

Answer 7

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Answer 8

This page of links may give you some ideas:

Physics in everyday life

I like the topics of Roller Coasters, and Cycling.

Answer 9

Well, I recently chipped my Skyline and fitted her out with a nitrous oxide system, doesn't she shift.

I now find that I need take into account relativistic effects when journey planning, finding space shrinking in the direction of travel and journeys taking a lot less time than simple Newtonian mechanics would dictate. Another bonus is that I can pass through gaps between cars smaller than the length of my car at rest. My mates are well jealous.

I do though have a problem with my Tom Tom as my near light-speed travel seems to render it almost useless. I've gone back to using maps but as you might appreciate, at such velocity, shifting one's attention from road to lap for even a nanosecond could result in a nasty accident. I always use my bluetooth headset when making calls.

Very funny!! - johndoe04, Jan 20, 2011

Answer 10

Someone forgot a basic law of physics.

Answer 11

The physicists will tell you, "Everything is physics". Walking=friction/gravity. Eating=gravity/pressure. Talking/hearing=sound/waves. Seeing=waves/optics. Obviously, everything is physics. But before you applaud the physicists,here comes the biologist,who says "Everything is biology". So you can relate any physical,biological,chemical,geological,etc activities to anything.

Answer 12

What do you have in mind? Physics is everyday life - or vice-versa. Everything we do in the mechanical word has to do with physics. Our bodies are mass; they have energy, they have inertia, and if we're moving, they have velocity, acceleration, friction, and so forth.

Every interaction with anything around us: other people, clothes, food, light, wind, whatever, is ruled and permeated by physics. Even some of our spiritual and mystical experiences may be explained in terms of quantum physics. So really, where does physics not relate to daily life?

Nice one. - lagartijaverde, Jan 20, 2011

Answer 13

Everyday, aesthetic plastic surgery defies Newton´s law of universal gravitation.

"Every day" as you have used it. "Everyday" is an adjective. - Sabor, Jan 20, 2011

Defies in a positive way, I find my self attracted to those with pectoral prostheses by a force greater than the products of our masses divided by the square of our separation all multiplied by the gravitational constant! - afowen, Jan 20, 2011

Afowen, why do I think you don't have a girlfriend? :) - Sabor, Jan 20, 2011

Answer 14

-please delete

Answer 15

The one law I'd like to break is that "Time's arrow" only moves forward.