Science

What is physics? »Its definition and meaning

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The word physics comes from the Greek word physis which means "nature". It is the science that studies the properties of bodies and the laws that govern the transformations that affect their state and movement, without altering their nature. That is, the science in charge of analyzing physical transformations or phenomena; for example, the fall of a body or the melting of ice. It is the most fundamental science, it is closely related to the other natural sciences, and in a way it encompasses them all.

What is Physics

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The concept of physics is oriented to a type of specialization that is quite broad, sufficient and that is increasing with the passage of time, in fact, it is not difficult to discover what physics is and what are the issues it addresses regarding what he studies due to the universality applied by the greatest scientists and studies of this science. Now, as for its primary, central objective and what could be called as the genesis of its existence, are the laws that govern the universe as a whole.

The laws mentioned above have been evaluated since ancient times and, in addition, have served to use other subject sciences of this science, for example, philosophy, which served and, in fact, continues to serve to perform all kinds of experiments that cover subjects related to physics to later begin with the tests, the latter are taken into account as a formal and definitive source of verification of the information found and experienced. The definition of physics not only addresses what we know today about that science, but also physical magnitudes.

With the concept of physics it is quite clear all the competences that it addresses, but the methods are also reflected according to the branches of physics and, consequently, of their culture, achieving a complete understanding of science, how it works in the physical universe that we know and discovering the cognitive processes that it has when studying and using it. The physical changes currently experienced detail a before and after in the history of physics, which can be extended but will be explained in this same section.

For example, chemistry is responsible for the interaction of atoms to form molecules; Much of modern geology is essentially a study of the physics of the Earth and is known as geophysics; and astronomy deals with the physics of stars and outer space. The definition of physics includes even other sciences similar to this and that are studied in isolation, for example, quantum physics.

It has its similarities with classical physics because, like everything, part of a very broad genesis, however, there are issues that have changed over the years that have made it quite acceptable modern physics. This science has vastly different aspects that can be easily approached.

History of physics

It is difficult to talk about the history of one of the oldest sciences in the world and not mention the people who were in charge not only of understanding it, but also of creating theories that are still applied today.

It is so extensive and so imperative, that it can describe the tiniest particle in the universe and, in turn, explain the birth of a star, its density and conformation. Thanks to physics experiments and physical work carried out by Galileo Galilei, the most basic topics of study of this broad science were elaborated.

However, before these historical feats, ancient civilizations wondered how the environment in which they lived worked and, looking at the stars with longing, different philosophical interpretations of the origin of the universe began to emerge.

From there, physics was taken as a natural philosophy studied and used by Aristotle, Democritus and Thales of Miletus. The 3 are remembered for being the first men to be interested in the origin of the world and to explain the different physical phenomena of this, however, they did not carry out any type of experiments in this area.

It cannot be denied that due to the lack of experiments, works and verification of theories, many philosophers developed wrong ideas about the universe and these ideas were accepted even by the Catholic Church for more than two thousand years.

One of the most historically remembered errors is the theory that the earth was located at the center of the universe and, consequently, the rest of the planets revolved around it. Even Aristotle's thesis had its own errors but, in the absence of verification, they were taken as true. This stage of physics was called Dark Ages.

Later, around the year 1687, the scientist Isaac Newton not only united the theories of Galileo Galilei and Kepler, but also reflected in his book the principles of motion that governed the earth and the universe and added the law of gravity, thus revolutionizing everything that was understood about this science and marking a before and after in physics.

Each scientist made important contributions over the years, leaving a difference between primitive, classical and modern physics. Names like Robert Boyle, Daniel Bernoulli, and Robert Hooke are remembered today.

Classical physics

According to everything that has been talked about in this post, it is clear that classical physics is a branch of this same science that had a place long before quantum mechanics. With it, the correct functioning (and not the wrong one that it maintained for 2,000 years) of the solar system and, consequently, of the universe itself is widely explained.

Although it is broad enough, it did not give satisfactory answers to scientists about some cosmological problems that are addressed in modern physics or quantum mechanics. It has been called a deterministic science.

This is due to the fact that its study objects can begin as closed systems, however, with the passage of time they become totally dependent on the state in which the system is at the time of study.

In fairly general terms, it has a rather peculiar objective and it is the study of speeds that do not compare at all to the speed of light, that is, ranges below the latter. Studies in this branch of physics are conducted long before the 20th century.

Modern physics

Research in this branch of physics dates from the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century. Its impact began when scientists began to question the continuity of energy, which was managed and affirmed by classical physics since its inception.

The proposition of the "quantum" embodied by the scientist Max Planck gave birth to modern physics, so that it could study and broadly address all the changes, manifestations and variables that could exist in an atom and the distribution of energy expanded in levels called multiples.

In addition to this, it is also in charge of studying all the experimental behaviors of the atoms and particles in the universe, as well as the forces that dominate or govern them. In addition to this, it is responsible for covering the studies of the physical speed of light or the figures and data that are very close to it, in addition to what is the mass in physics, etc.

This branch of is responsible for studying the probabilities of the universe, it is not as accurate as the classical branch of physics, but in the same way it is quite successful and used.

Branches of physics

To know what physics studies, it is necessary to address the most important topics of this, among them, its branches and conformation. It is considered a pure and natural science because it is responsible for studying not only time and space, but also energy and matter. This can be seen in physics or chemistry, but in the end, it is pure physics in which the adequate answers are found for the unknowns regarding the universe.

This science is very broad and in principle complicated, that is why it is divided into certain branches that are responsible for studying the physical mass and everything related to it more deeply and in focus.

Each branch is in charge of tackling a specific topic, truthful and accurate information is investigated and compiled, so that later on, various experiments are carried out that can serve as bases for applicable theories over time.

In this way, some highly accepted hypotheses emerged globally and how the names of the scientists who were responsible for these great feats continue to endure in history. Now, according to what has already been mentioned, the branches will be briefly explained in this same section.

Mechanics

It was born in the modern era of physics and it is about the study of the movement of each and every one of the objects found in space and the effect that these forces generate on those same objects. This branch of physics is easily identified, in addition, it is classified in quantum mechanics and fluid mechanics.

Quantum mechanics encompasses everything related to atoms and their atomic and subatomic systems. In addition, it evaluates its relationship with electromagnetic radiation. Fluid mechanics is nothing more than the study of liquids or gases in the universe and how their forces work in it.

Thermodynamics

It is about the broad and accurate study of temperature and everything related to it, that is, its variations, transmission phenomena and generation of energy known as calorific and each effect or consequence of this.

Born in classical physics. Its level is totally macroscopic and in addition to studying the temperature, it is also in charge of evaluating the energy lying in the universe and how it acts against the stars and other objects found in it. The theories born under this branch are of deductive origin, based on totally experimental methods without actually modeling them.

Electromagnetism

It belongs to the modern era of physics and is responsible for studying all the phenomena related to electromagnetism, worth the redundancy. His research is based on the combination of what is known as electricity and magnetism.

Why? because over the years it was possible to show that both definitions have a close connection and that they can be investigated in a unified way, but this does not mean that any of these phenomena cannot be covered separately. Electromagnetism is also defined as a theory or hypothesis of fields thanks to its vector or tensor magnitudes, the latter being dependent on space and time.

Optics

His studies are born in the modern era of physics and he covers the phenomena related to light energy, that is, he seeks a way to explain how light has the functions of a ray in the different universal phenomena. In it, light is the central object of study and tries to understand its elements, characteristics, diffraction, dispersion and polarization.

It also addresses its interaction with objects in the universe and the effect it generates on the bodies lying in it. Broadly, light is considered a particle, but also a kind of wave.

Acoustics

Its origin goes back to the classical era of physics and, as its name indicates, its studies are based on extensive research on sound, the properties it possesses, its measurements and the effect that it can cause on bodies lying in it. universe we know.

It does not matter if we are talking about a specific planet or the entire universal magnitude that surrounds us, the sound is present and it is necessary to approach it and investigate it to know its reactions, principles and scope. In acoustics you can even talk about a physical distance and its physical properties.

Nuclear physics

It is closely related to quantum mechanics because, like it, it is in charge of specifically evaluating the changes and alterations that can occur in atoms. As in mechanics, nuclear physics has its birth in the modern age of its basic science. It covers the molecular structure of atomic nuclei, subatomic particles, and even matter itself.

Its physical properties are very wide, however, it is socially known and accepted as one of the branches of this science that is responsible for developing nuclear weapons based on nuclear energy, worth the redundancy.

Physical

Here we talk about pure physics, as mentioned earlier in this post. It speaks of a natural physics due to its studies regarding space, time, energy and matter.

The explanation of each of these elements allows the scientist the total discovery of the true purpose of the universe, the way in which it acts, how it is reflected and the effect that this has not only on humanity, but on all elements and objects found from the universe. In addition, it is applicable not only in the aspects of reality that is known today, but in other areas (quantum physics).

Astrophysics

Far from what was thought at the beginning of physical studies, this science is also very interested in the phenomena that occur in other stars and planets different from ours and it is not only about finding life, but about the way in which these Astronomical objects, planets and molecules function in correlation to the earth.

So it is clear that, in a quite concrete way, astrophysics is a branch whose main objective is to evaluate, investigate and study deeply the rest of the celestial bodies that are located within our universe.

Geophysics

This is the branch of physics whose main and primary object is to study structural changes and any type of terrestrial phenomenon. The earth, as a celestial body belonging to the universe, is the central focus of this science.

Among all the study methods of this science, the refraction of waves and mechanical effects, as well as their reflection are the most used for the compression of the earth. In itself, natural phenomena such as tsunamis, gravitational phenomena, earthquakes, and rising tides are used by this science. Although man-induced phenomena also have a place here.

With all this it is verified that physics is not only broad, but extremely important in different areas, branches and aspects of the most influential sciences of all time and that, in one way or another, they all end up depending on physics to be able to explain the phenomena of matter, time, space and even energy that each of them encompass.

Frequently Asked Questions about Physics

What do we call physics?

It is a science that is responsible for studying the properties that a body has, in addition, it studies the laws that can transform and affect the movement and state of that same body.

What is physics for?

To study all those changes that may affect the functioning or movement of a body, however, physics does not alter the nature of the object of study.

What physical properties make some materials different from others?

Optical absorption, classical, latent heat and specific heat, electric charge and capacity, area, albedo, mass density, ductility, hardness, intensity, both linear and angular momentum, opacity, pressure, electric potential, etc..

What are physical changes?

These are alterations that objects tend to experience, however, these alterations do not affect their chemical composition, they only modify or affect the composition of a mixture.

What subjects is physics related to?

This science is related to chemistry, mathematics, biology, astronomy, and astrophysics.