What is physics?

Physics is a natural science based on experiments, measurements and mathematical analysis with the purpose of finding quantitative physical laws for everything from the nano world of the micro cosmos to the planets, solar systems and galaxies that occupy the macro cosmos.

Most people hear the word 'physics' and run for cover. But it's not just for rocket scientists! You are surrounded by physics all the time, and whether you realize it or not, you use physics every day. Physics, the study of matter and energy, is an ancient and broad field of science.

The word 'physics' comes from the Greek 'knowledge of nature,' and in general, the field aims to analyze and understand the natural phenomena of the universe.

One thing that may come to mind when you think of physics is the many scientific laws, which are statements describing phenomena that have been repeatedly tested and confirmed. This is actually an important part of physics. Physicists perform and repeat experiments, sometimes ad nauseam, to formulate these laws and explain how our universe works. These laws (such as gravity and Newton's laws of motion) are so thoroughly tested that they are accepted as 'truths,' and they can be used to help us predict how other things will behave.

Because physics explains natural phenomena in the universe, it's often considered to be the most fundamental science. It provides a basis for all other sciences - without physics, you couldn't have biology, chemistry, or anything else!

History Of Physics

The laws of nature can be used to predict the behaviour of the world and all kinds of machinery. Many of the everyday technological inventions that we now take for granted resulted from discoveries in physics. The basic laws in physics are universal, but physics in our time is such a vast field that many subfields are almost regarded as separate sciences.

The early Greeks established the first quantitative physical laws, such as Archimedes' descriptions of the principle of levers and the buoyancy of bodies in water. But they did not actually conduct experiments, and physics as science stagnated for many centuries. By the 17th century, however, Galileo Galilei and later Issac Newton helped pioneer the use of mathematics as a fundamental tool in physics, which led to advances in describing the motion of heavenly bodies, the laws of gravity and the three laws of motion.

The laws of electricity, magnetism and electromechanical waves were developed in the 1800s by Faraday and Maxwell, in particular, while many others contributed to our understanding of optics and thermodynamics.

Modern physics can be said to have started around the turn of the 20th century, with the discovery of X-rays (Röntgen 1895), radioactivity (Becquerel 1896), the quantum hypothesis (Planck 1900), relativity (Einstein 1905) and atomic theory (Bohr 1913).

Quantum mechanics (Heisenberg and Schrödinger), beginning in 1926, also gave scientists a better understanding of chemistry and solid state physics, which in turn has led to new materials and better electronic and optical components. Nuclear and elementary particle physics have become important fields, and particle physics is now the basis for astrophysics and cosmology.

Physicists ask really big questions like:

How did the universe begin?
How will the universe change in the future?
How does the Sun keep on shining?
What are the basic building blocks of matter?
If you think these questions are fascinating, then you’ll like physics.

What do Physicists do?

Many physicists work in ‘pure’ research, trying to find answers to these types of question. The answers they come up with often lead to unexpected technological applications. For example, all of the technology we take for granted today, including games consoles, mobile phones, mp3 players, and DVDs, is based on a theoretical understanding of electrons that was developed around the turn of the 20th century.

Physics doesn’t just deal with theoretical concepts. It’s applied in every sphere of human activity, including:

Development of sustainable forms of energy production
Treating cancer, through radiotherapy, and diagnosing illness through various types of imaging, all based on physics.
Developing computer games
Design and manufacture of sports equipment
Understanding and predicting earthquakes

…in fact, pretty much every sector you can think of needs people with physics knowledge.

What about mathematics and computers?

Many apparently complicated things in nature can be understood in terms of relatively simple mathematical relationships. Physicists try to uncover these relationships through observing, creating mathematical models, and testing them by doing experiments. The mathematical equations used in physics often look far more complicated than they really are. Nevertheless, if you are going to study physics, you will need to get to grips with a certain amount of maths.

Physicists are increasingly using advanced computers and programming languages in the solution of scientific problems, particularly for modelling complex processes. If the simulation is not based on correct physics, then it has no chance of predicting what really happens in nature. Most degree courses in physics now involve at least some computer programming.

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