13. HEAT, LIGHT AND ELECTRICITY

13. HEAT, LIGHT AND ELECTRICITY

Passage through the substance and effect on it of “heat”, “light” and “electricity” represents different aspects of the same phenomenon.

Sections of physics devoted to electricity and optics are engaged in study of distribution flows of elementary particles in different environments (substances). As it was mentioned above, the streams of elementary particles are electromagnetic waves.

 Optics studies the distribution in transparent materials of optical photons emitted by heated elements or reflected by the not-heated elements of various substances. Initially there was only geometrical optics engaged in studying of “behavior” in transparent media only of optical photons. In the future, the laws and concepts of geometrical optics began to apply in relation to the distributing particles of other quality and not only in transparent materials. In particular, such concepts as wavelength and frequency of electromagnetic waves are used not only in relation to “the light” - optical photons, but also to any type of electromagnetic waves. In any case, and optical photons and all other types of electromagnetic waves should be considered as a second component of the “heat”.

Sections of physics devoted to electricity (they can be summarized as Electromechanics) study the processes of accumulation of elementary particles of higher levels of the Physical Plan in various substances, and also the distribution of accumulated particles in these environments and their transition from one medium to another. Generic name for various types of free elementary particles accumulated in various substances - electricity (electrons). The composition of “electricity” includes radio, infrared and optical photons. Electricity - this is the second component of the “heat” emitted, distributing and transmitted not with the help of forces of repulsion of heated elements, and of the forces of attraction of elements.

So, optics, physics sections devoted to electricity and thermodynamics (even without knowing it) generalize the practical experience of distribution of elementary particles of varying quality. There are other areas of physics, directly related to the questions of existence flows of elementary particles, or simply seeking to understand their nature, but not tracing the characteristics of their distribution in the environments. For example, one of the objects of study of nuclear physics is radioactive elements. And as it’s known they emit all kinds of radiation, which are nothing but streams of elementary particles of varying quality. Quantum mechanics is interested in such physical characteristics of the particles as their mass, speed, force.

Thus, free particles of any quality distributing in any media (substances, bodies) represent the 2nd component of the “heat”. And the processes of distribution of the “heat” in environments are explored by thermodynamics. As a result, we can conclude that all of the branches of physics - optics, electromechanics, nuclear physics, quantum mechanics, and finally thermodynamics - can be combined on the base of a commonality of the studied subject – i.e. of elementary particles.