Technology And Society
Units And Dimensions of Class 11
Physics is almost an integral part of upgradation of technology. Technology was also a branch of science where we study the application of principles of physics for practical purposes. Based on laws and principles of physics, technocrats along with scientists develop technically advanced equipment to help the society.
For example, from the principles of thermodynamics James Watt invented steam engine which was responsible for a big industrial revolution in England in the 18th century. Another recent example is invention of mobile phones which are creating revolution in wireless communication technology. Yet another important example is invention of micro−processors by using silicon chips which has replaced valve technology and brought the computers from the size of your study room to the size of your geometry box. These are few examples. There are many more areas where physics is involved in upgrading technology and thereby helping the society. The following table gives us a list of various branches of physics that helped the field of technology.
|
Technology |
Scientific principle(s) |
|
Steam engine |
Laws of thermodynamics |
|
Nuclear reactor |
Nuclear fission |
|
Radio and Television |
Propagation of electromagnetic waves |
|
Computers |
Digital logic |
|
Lasers: Light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation (population inversion) |
Electron energy level transition |
|
Production of ultra−high magnetic fields |
Superconductivity |
|
Rocket propulsion |
Newton’s laws of motion |
|
Electric generator |
Faraday’s laws of electromagnetic induction |
|
Hydroelectric power |
Conversion of gravitational potential energy into electric energy |
|
Aeroplane |
Bernoulli’s principle in fluid dynamics |
|
Particle accelerators |
Motion of charged particles in electromagnetic fields |
|
Air conditioners / Refrigerators |
Laws of thermodynamics |
|
Washing machines, centrifuge, etc. |
Centrifugal force |
|
Sonar |
Reflection of ultrasonic waves |
|
MRI(Magnetic resonance imaging) |
Resonance phenomenon |
The following table lists the involvement of various renowned physicists all across the world, who helped the society with their noble inventions.
|
Name |
Major Contribution / Discovery |
Country of origin |
|
Isaac Newton |
Universal law of gravitation: Laws of motion; reflecting telescope. |
U. K. |
|
Galileo Galilei |
Law of inertia |
Italy |
|
Archimedes |
Principle of buoyancy; principle of the lever |
Greece |
|
James Clerk Maxwell |
Electromagnetic theory; light an electromagnetic wave |
U. K. |
|
W. K. Roentgen |
X− rays |
Germany |
|
Marie Sklodowska Curie |
Discovery of radium and polonium; Studies on natural radioactivity |
Poland |
|
Albert Einstein |
Law of photo−electricity; Theory of relativity, Brownian Motion. |
Germany |
|
S. N. Bose |
Quantum statistics (Bose Einstein statics) |
India |
|
James Chadwick |
Neutron |
U.K. |
|
Niels Bohr |
Quantum model of hydrogen atom |
Denmark |
|
Ernest Rutherford |
Nuclear model of atom |
New Zealand |
|
C.V. Raman |
Inelastic scattering of light by molecules |
India |
|
Christiaan Huygens |
Wave theory of light |
Holland |
|
Michael Faraday |
Laws of electromagnetic induction |
U.K. |
|
Edwin Hubble |
Expanding universe |
U.S.A. |
|
Homi Jehangir Bhabha |
Cascade process in cosmic radiation |
India |
|
Abdus Salam |
Unification of weak and electromagnetic interactions |
Pakistan |
|
R. A. Millikan |
Measurement of electronic charge |
U.S.A |
|
Ernest Orlando Lawrence |
Cyclotron |
U.S.A. |
|
Wolfgang Pauli |
Quantum Exclusion Principle |
Austria |
|
Louis victor de Broglie |
Wave nature of matter |
France |
|
J.J. Thomson |
Electron |
U.K. |
|
S. Chandrasekhar |
Chandrasekhar limit, structure and evolution of stars |
India |
|
Lev Devidovich Landau |
Theory of condensed matter; liquid helium |
Russia |
|
Heinrich Rudolf Hertz |
Electromagnetic waves |
Germany |
|
Victor Francis Hess |
Cosmic radiation |
Austria |
|
M. N. Saha |
Thermal ionisation |
India |
|
G. N. Ramachandran |
Triple helical structure of proteins |
India |
|
Thomas Alwa Edison |
Electric bulb, Projector |
US |
|
Graham Bell |
Telephone |
US |
|
Cavendish |
Determination of ‘G’ |
England |
|
Robert Boyle |
Boyle’s law |
England |
So, to put it in a nut shell, science, technology and society are inseparable as they are deeply interwined.
