How has physics revolutionized technology over the years? Major discoveries have led to a paradigm shifts, enabling us create more sophisticated, advanced and efficient technologies. In today’s post, I would just like to explore just a few examples of how physics finds its foot in the tech we use every day.
As we already know, physics is the study of matter and the interactions between them. Through this we are able to understand the physical laws that govern them.
Let’s start with the most used technology of our time: the smartphone. How does physics play a role in the functioning of a smartphone. It’s clear that the smartphone you hold in your hand may seem small, but is incredibly powerful in what it can do. It’s intricate design and assembly amaze me, and they make me marvel at how far we’ve come as humans in increasing processing power while making devices smaller and smaller. So, where does the physics come into play?
Let’s begin with the touchscreen, since it’s the most interactive part. What is it that these screens are made of? How is it that they respond do the touch of our fingers? These screens are made of a transparent conductive material, typically indium tin oxide (ITO), layered over glass or plastic. The process through which they respond to our touch is capacitive sensing. This process, described by physics, works based on changes in electric fields caused by the conductive properties of the human body, which alter the capacitance when a finger touches the screen. The understanding of materials through research enables one to find the best material suitable for a product. So yeah, physics plays a crucial role here.
Now, let’s move to the processing chips, where all the computation happens. These chips are made from semiconductor material, primarily silicon, organized into billions of microscopic transistors. The operation of the transistor is based on the controlled flow of electrons through a material, acting as an on/off switch or amplifier. This process, as described by physics, is governed by quantum mechanics and the manipulation to electric fields to control electron flow. The smartphone is complex, and it’s full of fascinating technologies. I won’t spoil the fun here by diving into more of such parts. Let’s see where your curiosity leads you to.😄
Next, let’s talk about telecommunications. How is it that you receive signals, stream live events, or make phone calls? It’s all in the concept of waves – specifically electromagnetic waves. On the electromagnetic spectrum, there are a range of waves with different wavelengths and frequencies. The visible region of the spectrum is what our eyes can perceive. Beyond that, are Infrared, Microwaves and radio waves (used in broadcasting).
But how are these waves formed? They are formed by oscillating (moving back and forth) electric and magnetic fields. This phenomenon produces the radio waves that are transmitted from one station to another. This aspect takes one into Electromagnetism, where you would find Maxwell’s Equations which describe the behavior or electric and magnetic waves. This concept also forms the foundation for other technologies like Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and other wireless technologies, all relying on the oscillation of magnetic and electric fields.
Moving on to nuclear power plants work, we shift our attention to nuclear physics. With the advent of the atomic bomb, the question of a controllable nuclear reaction stemmed forth. The basic working principle of a nuclear power plant stems from the splitting of the atom to release large amounts of energy. The atomic bomb demonstrates this process in an uncontrollable manner, where the fissionable material reaches critical mass and triggers a chain reaction. However, in a nuclear power plant, the nuclear reactors have neutron rods which are used to control the rate of disintegration of the fissionable materials by using neutron rods. This absorbs excess neutrons to ensure a safe and stable reaction. Through this controlled process, energy is produced used a source of electricity for many.
This is a glimpse into how physics powers everyday technology. I Hope you enjoyed reading, and I invite you to stay tuned for more in the coming days. Feel free to share your thoughts and let’s get interactive. If you missed my previous post, you can check it out by following the link @samuel77-x/what-is-physics-the-science-behind-everything.
Next I would like to talk about a famous physicist. Who is it going to be...Einstein, Newton, Feynman. Buckle up! Tschüss!
