PHYSICS: INTRODUCTION TO PHYSICS

science

any system of knowledge concerned with the physical world and its phenomena, using observations and experimentation

social science

• the study of human behavior, society, social relationships

• ex. psychology, sociology, economics, political science, anthropology

formal science

• the study of abstract systems, logic & structures

• ex. logic, math, statistics, computer science

natural science

• the study of the natural world & physical universe

• is divided into life science & physical science

life science

• the study of living organisms and their life processes

• ex. biology, botany, zoology, microbiology

physical science

• the study of non-living systems and the physical universe

• ex. chemistry, physics, astronomy, geology, meteorology

physics

• a branch of natural science that studies matter, energy, force & motion

• explains why & how things happen in the physical world

classical physics

• a branch of physics that includes topics developed up until the 1920s

• recognized before the beginning of the 20th century

• focuses on newtonian mechanics - thermodynamics & electromagnetism theory

isaac newton

the father of classical physics

modern physics

• a branch of physics about the concepts of einstein developed since the beginning of the 20th century

• includes topics of the behavior of matter & energy under extreme conditions

albert einstein

the father of modern physics

mechanics

• the study of forces acting on bodies or in motion

• often referred to as “newtonian mechanics”

• based on the fundamental laws of motion developed by isaac newton

kinematics

the study of the quantitative description of motion

statics

the study of forces at rest

dynamics

the study of how motion is brought about

optics

the study of light

physical optics

the study of nature, properties & propagation of light

psychological optics

the study of the part played by light in vision

geometrical optics

the application of reflection & refraction of light in mirrors & lenses

accoustics

the study of nature & propagation of sound

thermodynamics

the study of temperature & energy; heat flow & transformation of heat energy

electromagnetism

the study of the properties and relationship of electric current with magnetism

electrostatic

the study of electric charges at rest

electrodynamic

the study of moving electric charges

atomic physics

the study of the components, structure, & properties of atoms

nuclear physics

the study of the structure, properties reactions & evolutions of atomic nuclei

quantum physics

the study of invisible units of energy (quanta) as described in the quantum theory

solid state physics

or condensed matter physics; the study of solid materials like semiconductors & superconductivity

plasma physics

the study of ionized (electric charge) gases

relativistic physics

the study of phenomena that take place in frame of reference that in motion with respect to an observer

astrophysics

applies physics to stars, galaxies & the universe

geophysics

the study of the physical properties of earth

biophysics

applies physics to the biological system & how it gathers energy