Cosmology

Cosmology is the branch that involves the origin and evolution of the universe. It deals with formation of stars, galaxy etc. In the year , the existence of “gravitational waves” was discovered and noble prize was awarded for this discovery in the year . Gravitational waves are the disturbances in the curvature of space-time and it travels with speed of light.

Any accelerated charge emits electromagnetic wave. Similarly any accelerated mass emits gravitational waves but these waves are very weak even for masses like earth. Te strongest source of gravitational waves are black holes. Te discovery of gravitational waves made it possible to study the structure of black holes since it is the strongest source of gravitational waves.

In fact, the recent discoveries of gravitational waves are emitted by two black holes when they merge to a single black hole. In fact, Albert Einstein theoretically proposed the existence of ‘gravitational waves’ in the year . Afer years, it is experimentally proved that his predictions are correct. Black holes are end stage of stars which are highly dense massive object.

Its mass ranges from times mass of the sun to million times mass of the sun. It has very strong gravitational force such that no particle or even light can escape from it. Te existence of black holes is studied when the stars orbiting the black hole behave differently from the other stars. Every galaxy has black hole at its center.

Sagittarius A* is the black hole at the center of the Milky Way galaxy. Gravitational wave Unit Recent developments in physics Black hole sagittarus A* Te famous physicist Stephen Hawking worked in the field of black holes. Actual photograph of a super massive black hole M87* Super computers and eight telescopes stationed on five continents (EVENT HORIZON TELESCOPE) were used to develope a huge data to accomplish this. It has once again confirmed the Einstein’s theory of general relativity.

Unit Recent developments in physics (A scene from the play Rossum Universal Robots, showing three robots) Many striking innovations and discoveries originate from scientific fictions. Robots are also no exception to this. Te word robotics was derived from the word robot. It was introduced in the play ‘Rossum Universal Robots’ by the Zech writer Karel Capek in .

Te word robot comes from the Slavic word rabota, which means labour or work. Te play begins in a factory that makes artificial people called robots. Tey looked like creatures that can be mistaken for humans (picture shown). Tese characters were very similar to the modern ideas of androids.

Quantum information theory (Not for examination) It is another fast developing research area which deals with improving the information storage using quantum computers. Te present computers store information in the form of ‘bits’ but quantum computers store information in the form of ‘qubits’. ‘qubit’ refers to quantum bit and it is the basic unit of quantum information. Classical bit implies either or .

But qubit not only includes or and also linear superposition of and . Tis technology reduces the calculating time exponentially. Tis research field has very promising application in future. Qubit Information is physical Nature is quantum Quantum information processing Head (' ') Tail (' ') or α β Unit Recent developments in physics Salient physics principles (covered in the higher secondary physics) are the foundation for technology break through.

Physics is the basic building block for Science, Engineering, Technology and Medicine. Nano science is the science of objects with typical sizes of – nm. Nano means one-billionth of a metre that is – m. Nanotechnology is a technology involving the design, production, characterization, and applications of nano structural materials.

If the particle of a solid is of size less than nm, it is said to be a ‘nano solid’. When the particle size exceeds nm, it forms a ‘bulk solid’. Nano form of the material shows strikingly different properties when compared to its bulk counterpart. Quantum confinement effects and surface effects are the two important phenomena that govern nano properties.

Nanoscience and technology is the interdisciplinary area covering its applications in various fields. Nano scale structures existed in nature long before scientists began studying them in laboratories. There are two ways of preparing the nanomaterials, top down and bottom up approaches. Nanotechnology applications cover various fields.

The major concern with nano application is that the nanoparticles have the dimensions same as that of the biological molecules such as proteins. Nano particles can easily get absorbed onto the surface of living organisms and they might enter the tissues and fluids of the body. The adsorbing nature depends on the surface of the nanoparticle. It is possible to deliver a drug directly to a specific cell in the body by designing the surface of a nanoparticle.

Nanoparticles of a few nanometers size may reach well inside biomolecules, which is not possible for larger nanoparticles. Nanoparticles can also cross cell membranes. The inhaled nanoparticles reach the blood and that may also reach other sites such as the liver, heart or blood cells. Robotics is an integrated study of mechanical engineering, electronic engineering, computer engineering, and science.

Robot is a mechanical device designed with electronic circuitry and programmed to perform a specific task. The robotic system mainly consists of sensors, power supplies, control systems, manipulators and necessary software.