Discoveries in Physics

1. The Law of Falling Bodies (1604) - Galileo Galilei overturns nearly 2,000 years of
Aristotelian belief that heavier bodies fall faster than lighter ones by proving that all
bodies fall at the same rate.
2. Universal Gravitation (1666)
Isaac Newton comes to the conclusion that all objects in the universe, from apples to
planets, exert gravitational attraction on each other.
3. Laws of Motion (1687)
Isaac Newton changes our understanding of the universe by formulating three laws to
describe the movement of objects. 1) An object in motion remains in motion unless an
external force is applied to it. 2) The relationship between an object's mass (m), its
acceleration (a) and the applied force (F) is F = ma. 3) For every action there is an equal
and opposite reaction.
4. The Second Law of Thermodynamics (1824 1850)
Scientists working to improve the efficiency of steam engines develop an understanding
of the conversion of heat into work. They learn that the flow of heat from higher to
lower temperatures is what drives a steam engine, likening the process to the flow of
water that turns a mill wheel. Their work leads to three principles: heat flows
spontaneously from a hot to a cold body; heat cannot be completely converted into
other forms of energy; and systems become more disorganized over time.
5. Electromagnetism (1807 1873)
Pioneering experiments uncover the relationship between electricity and magnetism
and lead to a set of equations that express the basic laws governing them. One of those
experiments unexpectedly yields results in a classroom. In 1820, Danish physicist Hans
Christian Oersted is speaking to students about the possibility that electricity and
magnetism are related. During the lecture, an experiment demonstrates the veracity of
his theory in front of the whole class.
6. Special Relativity (1905)
Albert Einstein overthrows basic assumptions about time and space by describing how
clocks tick slower and distances appear to stretch as objects approach the speed of light.
7. E = mc^2 (1905)
Or energy is equal to mass times the speed of light squared. Albert Einstein's famous
formula proves that mass and energy are different manifestations of the same thing,
and that a very small amount of mass can be converted into a very large amount of
energy. One profound implication of his discovery is that no object with mass can ever
go faster than the speed of light.

8. The Quantum Leap (1900 1935)

To describe the behavior of subatomic particles, a new set of natural laws is developed
by Max Planck, Albert Einstein, Werner Heisenberg and Erwin Schrodinger. A quantum
leap is defined as the change of an electron within an atom from one energy state to
another. This change happens all at once, not gradually.
9. The Nature of Light (1704 1905)
Thought and experimentation by Isaac Newton, Thomas Young and Albert Einstein lead
to an understanding of what light is, how it behaves, and how it is transmitted. Newton
uses a prism to split white light into its constituent colors and another prism to mix the
colors into white light, proving that colored light mixed together makes white light.
Young establishes that light is a wave and that wavelength determines color. Finally,
Einstein recognizes that light always travels at a constant speed, no matter the speed of
the measurer.
10. The Neutron (1935)
James Chadwick discovers neutrons, which, together with protons and electrons
comprise the atom. This finding dramatically changes the atomic model and accelerates
discoveries in atomic physics.
11. Superconductors (1911 1986)
The unexpected discovery that some materials have no resistance to the flow of
electricity promises to revolutionize industry and technology. Superconductivity occurs
in a wide variety of materials, including simple elements like tin and aluminum, various
metallic alloys and certain ceramic compounds.
12. Quarks (1962)
Murray Gell-Mann proposes the existence of fundamental particles that combine to
form composite objects such as protons and neutrons. A quark has both an electric and
a "strong" charge. Protons and neutrons each contain three quarks.
13. Nuclear Forces (1666 1957)
Discoveries of the basic forces at work on the subatomic level lead to the realization
that all interactions in the universe are the result of four fundamental forces of nature
the strong and weak nuclear forces, the electromagnetic force and gravitation.
14. Anti-gravity movement:
Water can easily run against the gravitational pull when moving up narrow pipes. The
process is described as Capillary Action. Water moves up in the narrow spaces without
any assistance and against the gravitational force. This ability of the liquid proves that
gravitational force cant control the movement of every matter present on earth. At times,
other forces (Surface tension, in this case) can defeat it.

WASHROOM STORY
Rearrange the sentences and put them in the correct order to complete the story:
Leaving Montreal, I decided to stop at one of those rest areas on the side of the road.
___ Then I hear the person, all confused, say:
___ -Not bad............
___ I am starting to find this a bit weird, but I say:
___ Look, I'll call you back--every time I ask you a question this idiot in the next stall keeps answering me!
___ Okay, I am not the type to strike up conversations with strangers in washrooms on the side of the road. I
didn't know what to say, so finally I say:
___ I go into the washroom. The first stall is taken, so I go into the second stall. I had just sat down when I hear a
voice from the other stall............
___ Well, I'm going back east...............
___ Hi there, how is it going?
___ Then the voice says: So, what are you doing?
Einstein's Chauffeur
This is a true life anecdote about Albert Einstein, and his theory of relativity.
snooze

attend
delivering
chauffeur
out

place
perfection
opportunity on

just
row

calculations
vehicle deliver

accompanied

After having proposed his famous theory, Albert Einstein would tour the various Universities in the United
States, __________________ lectures wherever he went. He was always __________________ by his faithful
chauffeur, Harry, who would __________________ each of these lectures while seated in the back
__________________. One fine day, after Einstein had finished a lecture and was coming out of the lecture
theatre into his __________________, Harry addresses him and says,
"Professor Einstein, I've heard your lecture on Relativity so many times, that if I were ever given the
__________________, I would be able to deliver it to __________________ myself!"
"Very well," replied Einstein, "I'm going to Dartmouth next week. They don't know me there. You can
__________________ the lecture as Einstein, and I'll take your __________________ as Harry!"
And so it went to be... Harry delivered the lecture to perfection, without a word __________________ of place,
while Einstein sat in the back row playing "chauffeur", and enjoying a __________________ for a change.
__________________ as Harry was descending from the podium, however, one of the research assistants
stopped him, and began to ask him a question __________________ the theory of relativity.... one that involved a
lot of complex __________________ and equations. Harry replied to the assistant
"The answer to this question is very simple! In fact, it's so simple, that I'm going to let my __________________
answer it!"

Find the words in the text that mean:

1.
2.
3.
4.

excellence
teach
act
celebrated, legendary, well-known

5. speech made to teach somebody something

6. investigate, study, explore
7. talk to someone
8. hypothesis, proposition,

Choose the correct word:

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.

IF / UNLESS you are careful on the internet, you WILL LOSE / WOULD LOOSE all the files.
Mr Bell DISCOVERED / INVENTED the telephone.
Im sorry Im late, but I MISSED / LOST /VE MISSED /VE LOST my plane.
The SPECTATORS / AUDIENCE / VISITORS clapped for 5 minutes after the concert yesterday.
My car broke DOWN / UP / OFF, so I MUST / HAD TO call a taxi.
Weve RUN OUT OF / RUN UP OF sugar. COULD / MAY you go to the store and get SOME / ANY?
My alarm clock didnt go ON / OFF SO / BECAUSE I was late for THE WORK / WORK / THE JOB.
I studied for the exam, HOWEVER / ALTHOUGH / AND I didnt PAST / PASSED/ PASS.
He isnt good IN / AT / German, but he speaks Japanese PERFECTLLY / PERFECT / .TO PERFECTION.
Its not NATURAL / NATURALLY to see that NONE / NO ONE of the students knows ANYTHING / NOTHING.
I dont want to DO / HAVE NOTHING / ANYTHING with you, and I WONT / WANT answer ANY/NO of your
questions.

Make passives:
1. They print newspapers every day.
2. He built this house last month.
3. They have killed 15 hostages since February.
4. They cant do anything to help him now.
5. She will take her children to school tomorrow.
6. They are printing the latest issue of The Times.
7. If you dont do the job properly the boss will fire you.
8. They must keep all the infected people in quarantine.