Summary of Classical Physics – I

• Physics as it stood near the end of the 19th Century

• Fundamental quantities (Primitives):

  • Time flows the same everywhere for all observers
  • Space is described by 3 dimensions (Euclidean Geometry)
  • Mass is never created nor destroyed (conserved)
  • Charge (plus and minus) total is conserved – defined by force

• Units for primitives (standards)
  • Time - second – defined by standard clock in Paris – other clocks are brought to Paris; if they agree with the standard, they become secondary standards; it is assumed that each measures “time” valid for everyone
  • Space - meter – defined by standard meter in Paris
  • Mass - kilogram – defined by standard kilogram in Paris
  • Charge - Coulomb – defined by standard kilogram in Paris

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