Everyday physics, amazing phenomena

Physics, more than just a science

Physics is not just a discipline studied in universities. It is a force that governs our daily lives, and that is hidden behind phenomena that we take for granted. Here are some examples of physics in action, which will make you see the world from a new angle.

Why is the sky blue?

It's a question we've been asking since childhood, and the answer lies in physics. Sunlight is composed of all the colors of the spectrum, but blue waves are shorter than others. As light passes through the atmosphere, gas molecules and particles in the air scatter the blue light waves in all directions. This phenomenon, called Rayleigh scattering, is what gives the sky its blue color. On the other hand, the sun appears yellow, because the other colors reach our eyes directly.

Why does a boat float?

Physics helps us understand why gigantic steel boats float on water. It's all a matter of density and force. An object floats if its density is lower than that of the fluid in which it is immersed. A boat, even if it is very heavy, is less dense than water, because it contains a large amount of air in its hull. In addition, the force of the water that opposes the weight of the boat, called Archimedes' buoyant force, is sufficient to make it float.

Everyday physical phenomena

The science of physics is also found in more common phenomena. For example, when you are in the car and you hear a continuous sound, its pitch changes as you move closer to or away from the sound source. This is the Doppler effect, a physical phenomenon that explains why the sound of an ambulance changes pitch as it approaches, then moves away from you. Physics is also the triple point of water, a precise point of temperature and pressure where water can exist simultaneously in solid, liquid, and gaseous forms. These phenomena remind us that physics is not an abstract science, but a science that governs the world around us.