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Physics is the answer to all the logical questions on the surface of the Earth. However, it is challenging, but it explains the concepts that we might have otherwise not questioned. These interesting facts about physics will either woo you or question your lifetime knowledge. The possibilities and facts of matter and the universe are covered here. So let’s dive right into it and learn about the interesting facts about physics.
Table of Contents
- 1 1. Time Goes Faster on the Top Floor
- 2 2. Particles Can Be in Two Places at Once
- 3 3. Absolute Zero Stops Atomic Motion—Almost
- 4 4. Gravity- Weakest Fundamental Force
- 5 5. Sun Rays reach Earth in 8 minutes
- 6 6. You’re Mostly Empty Space
- 7 7. Time Slows Down as You Move Faster
- 8 8. Black Holes Warp Time and Space
- 9 9. Light Reflects, Absorbs, And Refracts
- 10 10. 95% of the Mass is Due to Dark Objects
- 11 11. You Can Create Matter From Light
- 12 12. Spinning Objects Stay Stable Due to Angular Momentum
- 13 13. Nothing Can Travel Faster Than Light—But Space Can
- 14 14. Phone Batteries are Composed of Electrochemical Reactions
- 15 15. The Sun Doesn’t Change Colours During Sunsets and Sunrises
- 16 16. Light Passes Slow in Water
- 17 17. The Universe Has No Edge—Just Curvature
- 18 18. Quantum Tunnelling Defies Barriers
- 19 19. The Dead Sea would Never Let you sink
- 20 20. Dead People Float Because of the Gas Release
- 21 FAQ
1. Time Goes Faster on the Top Floor
Who said that? Well! Einstein’s theory of relativity proves that the closer the item is to the Earth’s surface, the faster time passes there. Einstein’s theory of relativity, in simple words, states that space and time are relative concepts. He said that time may run faster or slower depending on the point of reference of the onlooker.
2. Particles Can Be in Two Places at Once
Thanks to quantum superposition, particles like electrons can exist in multiple states or places simultaneously until observed. This is the core of Schrödinger’s famous cat thought experiment. It only “chooses” one state when measured, which challenges our classical understanding of reality.
3. Absolute Zero Stops Atomic Motion—Almost
At absolute zero (-273.15°C), atoms reach their lowest energy state and nearly stop moving. However, due to quantum zero-point energy, they still exhibit minimal vibrations. It’s the closest thing to “completely still” in the universe—but never truly motionless.
4. Gravity- Weakest Fundamental Force
Four fundamental forces work on different forces and strengths. These are Gravity, strong interaction, weak interaction, and electromagnetism. Out of this, Gravity is the weakest fundamental force and has a strength of less than one-millionth of a millionth as compared to the strong nuclear force.
5. Sun Rays reach Earth in 8 minutes
Light travels at nearly 300,000 kilometers per second. The sun is about 149.6 million kilometers from Earth, so it takes approximately 8 minutes and 20 seconds for sunlight to reach us. This delay means we always see the sun as it was several minutes ago, not in real-time.
6. You’re Mostly Empty Space
Atoms are 99.9999999% empty space. If the nucleus of an atom were the size of a marble, the nearest electron would be several football fields away. That means everything solid, including you, is mostly empty—but held together by electromagnetic forces.
7. Time Slows Down as You Move Faster
Einstein’s special relativity shows that the faster you travel, the slower time passes for you. At near-light speed, time nearly stops relative to a stationary observer. This time dilation is not just theory—astronauts on the ISS age slightly slower than people on Earth.
8. Black Holes Warp Time and Space
Black holes have such immense gravity that they curve space and slow down time near them. To a distant observer, time appears frozen at the event horizon. Inside, the laws of physics as we know them completely break down.
9. Light Reflects, Absorbs, And Refracts
Light travels in straight lines but behaves differently based on the object it hits. It reflects off mirrors, absorbs into opaque surfaces like black cloth, and refracts or bends when passing through transparent materials like water or glass. This bending creates illusions like a pencil appearing bent in a glass of water.
10. 95% of the Mass is Due to Dark Objects
About 95% of the universe’s total mass-energy is invisible, composed of dark matter and dark energy. These don’t emit, absorb, or reflect light, making them undetectable with traditional tools. Yet, their gravitational effects on galaxies and cosmic structures prove their presence. Only 5% of the universe is made up of normal matter.
11. You Can Create Matter From Light
Under the right conditions, pure light (photons) can be converted into matter, thanks to E = mc². In high-energy collisions, photons can create particle-antiparticle pairs, proving light and matter are interchangeable. Scientists achieved this in lab conditions for the first time in 2021.
12. Spinning Objects Stay Stable Due to Angular Momentum
Ever wondered why a spinning top doesn’t fall? That’s due to angular momentum. A rotating object resists changes in its spin axis, keeping it upright. This principle is also used in gyroscopes and satellite navigation.
13. Nothing Can Travel Faster Than Light—But Space Can
While no object can exceed the speed of light, space itself can expand faster. During cosmic inflation right after the Big Bang, space expanded faster than light, stretching the universe in fractions of a second.
Also Read- Reflection and Refraction Study Notes
14. Phone Batteries are Composed of Electrochemical Reactions
Your phone’s battery works using electrochemical reactions, primarily in lithium-ion cells. These reactions convert stored chemical energy into electrical energy when the device is in use. During charging, the reverse process occurs. This rechargeable mechanism enables your smartphone to function for hours without being plugged into a power source.
15. The Sun Doesn’t Change Colours During Sunsets and Sunrises
The sun appears red or orange at sunrise and sunset due to Rayleigh scattering. As sunlight travels through more of Earth’s atmosphere at low angles, shorter wavelengths (blue/violet) scatter out, leaving longer wavelengths (red/orange) to reach our eyes. The sun itself remains the same colour—it’s the atmosphere that changes what we see.
16. Light Passes Slow in Water
Light travels more slowly in water than in air due to the denser molecular structure of liquids. As a result, refraction occurs, making submerged objects appear bent or broken. This slower speed also causes distorted reflections, like a funny or wavy face in water. The phenomenon is due to changes in light speed.
17. The Universe Has No Edge—Just Curvature
Our universe may be finite but unbounded, like the surface of a sphere. This means you could travel in a straight line forever and eventually end up where you started, without ever hitting an “edge.”
18. Quantum Tunnelling Defies Barriers
Quantum particles can pass through energy barriers they seemingly shouldn’t—this is called quantum tunnelling. It’s how the sun’s fusion works and why some electronic devices function. It’s like a tennis ball passing through a wall without breaking it!
19. The Dead Sea would Never Let you sink
The Dead Sea has an exceptionally high salt concentration—over 30% salinity. This makes the water much denser than the human body, increasing buoyancy. As a result, people float effortlessly on its surface. It’s nearly impossible to sink, making it a unique natural phenomenon and a popular attraction for curious travellers.
20. Dead People Float Because of the Gas Release
When a person drowns, the body initially sinks as the lungs fill with water. Over time, bacteria in the body decompose tissues and release gases like methane and carbon dioxide. These gases inflate the body, making it buoyant. That’s why drowned bodies often resurface a few days after submersion.
We hope we were able to amaze you with these interesting facts about physics, You can also check out the physics archive for more such information. We are sure you might also like reading Psychology Facts About Human Behaviour.
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FAQ
Time runs slower near a black hole due to gravitational time dilation predicted by Einstein’s General Theory of Relativity. The intense gravity warps spacetime, making time pass more slowly for someone near the black hole compared to someone far away.
According to Einstein’s Special Relativity, nothing with mass can travel faster than the speed of light in a vacuum (299,792,458 m/s). However, space itself can expand faster than light, such as during the Big Bang’s inflation period.
Quantum superposition means a particle can exist in multiple states at the same time until it’s measured. A famous example is Schrödinger’s cat—both alive and dead—until observed. It’s a key concept in quantum mechanics and quantum computing.
The high salt concentration in the Dead Sea increases water density, making it easier for the human body to float. This is due to buoyancy—when an object is less dense than the fluid it’s in, it floats.
Yes, most of an atom is empty space. The nucleus is incredibly tiny compared to the atom’s overall size, and electrons orbit far away. If an atom were the size of a stadium, the nucleus would be a marble on the field.
