ENVIRONMENTAL PHYSICS

Physics has always been concerned with understanding the natural environment, and, in its
early days, was often referred to as “Natural Philosophy.” Environmental Physics, as we choose
to define it, is the measurement and analysis of interactions between organisms and their
environments.
Environmental physics can be defined as the response of living organisms to their environment
within the framework of the physics of environmental processes and issues. It is structures
within the relationship between the atmosphere, the oceans (hydrosphere), land (lithosphere),
soils and vegetation (biosphere).
Environmental physics embraces the following themes:
1. Human Environment and Survival Physics.
2. Built Environment.
3. Urban Environment.
4. Renewable Energy.
5. Remote Sensing.
6. Weather.
7. Climate and Climate Change.
8. Environmental Health.

The Human Environment

Living organisms have to adapt and survive in a variety of environmental conditions,
including hot and cold climates. They are thermodynamic entities characterized by energy flows
both within the body, and between the body and its environment. For people to survive, the core
body temperature has to be maintained within a narrow temperature range of 32-37℃ .
Human beings have managed to live in all the different environments present throughout
the Earth. Mammals, including humans, have the remarkable ability to maintain a constant body
temperature, in spite of dramatic changes in environmental conditions. They are called
homeotherms. They sustain their body temperatures by adjusting the rate of energy transfer and
energy production (transformation). In contrasts, certain animal species, such as reptiles and
amphibians, have core body temperatures that respond to environmental temperatures. Such
animals are called poikilotherms. Both homeotherms and poikilotherms respond to conditions in
a variety of physiological and behavioral mechanisms. In cold weather we put on ‘warmer’
clothing, while bears have fur. In hot weather we wear thinner clothing.

Transfer of Heat:
Energy can be transferred from one point to another by the following mechanisms:
1- Conduction
Thermal conduction is the process by which energy can be transferred between two points in a
material at different temperatures. In conduction molecules don’t move freely. It happens in
solid. For example, heating up an iron rod.
2- Convection
Convection occurs when thermal energy is transferred by the motion of a fluid. The fluid can be
either a liquid or a gas. In convection molecules move freely. There are two types of convection:
(i) natural (when fluids move without forcing), and (ii) forced (when the fluid is forced, such as
blowing over a hot cup of tea).
3- Radiation
Radiation plays an important role in the energy balance of human beings. It is the process in
which energy can be transferred in the form of electromagnetic waves from one point to another
through a vacuum. All objects release energy in the form of electromagnetic waves. The best
absorbers usually make the best emitters of radiation and these are called black-body. Human
beings emit radiation in the infrared band.
Laws of Thermodynamics
1st Law of Thermodynamics
In any thermodynamics process, when heat Q is added to a system, this energy appears as an
increase in internal energy ∆ U stored in the system plus the work done W by the system on its
surroundings.
Q=∆ U +W
2nd Law of Thermodynamics
According to second law of thermodynamics, heat can be converted in to mechanical work
when it flows from higher temperature to lower temperature. But no engine convert heat
completely into work.
It is impossible to cause heat to flow from a cold body to hot body without the
expenditure of energy.
Entropy
Measure of the disorder an randomness.
Measure of the system’s thermal energy per unit temperature.
∆Q
∆ S=
T

Electromagnetic Radiation

DEFINITION
Electromagnetic radiation is a natural phenomenon that moves as a wave. Electromagnetic radiation
can be defined as a form of energy that is produced by the movement of electrically charged
particles travelling through a matter or vacuum or by oscillating magnetic and electric disturbances.

ELECTROMAGNETIC SPECTRUM
Electromagnetic spectrum is the
range of frequencies EM radiations
along with their associated
wavelengths and photon energies. It
consists of Gamma-rays, X-rays,
ultraviolet rays, infrared rays, radio
waves and microwaves.
Wavelength of the EM spectrum
continually changes.
High frequency = short wavelength
High frequency = high energy
High energy = more dangerous
WAVES AND THEIR CHARACTERISTICS
Wavelength
Wavelength (λ) is the distance between successive
Amplitude
crests of a wave, especially points in an
Itelectromagnetic
is the distance wave or middle
from the sound of
wave. If ‘λ’ is
the wave the
to the
wavelength, ‘c’ is the speed of light and
maximum vertical displacement of the wave. Larger ‘’ν‘ is
frequency. c = λ ν
the amplitude, the higher the energy and the lower
the
Theamplitude,
shorter the
the lower the energy.
wavelength, theAmplitude
greater tells
the
us
frequency and the greater the frequency,ofthea higher
about the brightness or intensity wave
compared
the energy.to other waves.
Frequency
Period
The
Period number of cycles
is commonly per second by
characterized is the
defined as
symbol
-1
Frequency.
‘T’. It is theIttotal
is defined as Hertz
time that (Hz)
a wave or sec
takes to travel 1
wavelength.