Physics

'Knowledge of nature'

 

Who named Physics?

The History of Physics - Before Aristotle: Atomism and Natural Laws. Thales was the first physicist and his theories actually gave the discipline its name. He believed that the world, although fashioned from many materials, was really built of only one element, water, called Physis in Ancient Greek.

 

 

Physics is considered to be one of the primitive subjects and academic disciplines to be discovered. It encompasses the study of matter, its motion and behaviour along with energy and force. As a vast discipline, it intersects with many different subjects and disciplines such as biophysics and quantum chemistry. Physics very often defines a wide range of principles and methodologies studied by other areas of sciences. It also suggests new areas of research for other academic fields, even mathematics and philosophy.

 

Branches of Physics

 

1:Classical Physics
Among the popular branches of physics is classical physics. It primarily deals with different laws of motion and gravitation. These theories are conceptualized by Sir Isaac Newton and James Clark. They are Maxwell’s kinetic theory and theory of thermodynamics. This branch of physics is concerned with matter and energy. Classical Physics can simply be termed as Physics which dates back to 1900 and before. Everything that comes under the discipline of physics after that era, that is after 1900, is considered to be modern physics. In classical physics, energy and matter are dealt with separately. As a general belief, the theories which are termed invalid in modern physics is immediately considered to be a part of classical physics.

2:Modern

Modern Physics is primarily centred around the two theories of relativity and quantum mechanics. Albert Einstein and Max Plank are the pioneers of this branch of physics. They were the first to propound the theory of relativity and quantum mechanics. Unlike the classical branch of Physics, the branch of modern physics doesn’t consider energy and matter as different entities. Here they are only called the two different forms of each other.

3:Nuclear Physics

This is a branch of physics that is concerned with the constituents, structure, behaviour and interactions of atomic nuclei. This branch of physics is different from that of atomic physics. Latter studies the atom, including its electrons. In contemporary times, nuclear physics has become a very broad area of study and extended its scope manifolds. Methodologies and principles of this subject are applied to other academic and research areas. It is used in power generation, nuclear weapons, magnetic resonance, imaging, medicines, industrial and agricultural isotopes

 4:Atomic Physics

Another in the list of branches of physics is Atomic physics. It is concerned with the composition of the atom apart from the nucleus. It is primarily concerned with studying and understanding the behaviour of electrons in the shells around the nucleus. This branch of physics deals with electrons, ions, and neutral atoms. Among the first and foremost forays into atomic physics was a recognition that all matter is comprised of atoms. The beginning of atomic physics is associated with the discovery of spectral lines. This discovery gave way for an entirely new understanding of the structure of atoms and their arrangement.

5:Mechanical Physics

This is one of the branches of physics that is concerned with understanding the motion of material objects and how they are influenced by forces. It is also simply called mechanics. It has two main branches are Classical Mechanics and Quantum Mechanics. Classical mechanics studies the laws of motion of physical objects. It also deals with the forces that cause the motion. On the other hand, quantum mechanics is the branch of physics that is primarily concerned with the behaviour of the smallest particles, like electrons

6:Mechanics

Mechanics is a branch of physics that focuses on the movement and motion of physical objects under a force and when at rest. It studies the relationship between different concepts like force, matter and motion. Forces applied to objects result in displacements or changes of an object’s position relative to its environment. It studies the law of motion, gravitation, friction, displacement and concerts like force, energy and power. 

7:Acoustics

Acoustics is a branch of physics that studies sound. It studies the mechanical waves passing through different forms like gases, liquids and solids. It studies vibrations and focuses on the production, control, transmission, reception, and effects of sound. It studies concepts like vibration, sound, ultrasound and infrasound.

8: Optics

Thermodynamics is a branch of physics concerned with heat and other forms of energy. It focuses on the transfer of energy from one form to another. It was introduced in the 19th century while scientists worked on steam engines. There are three laws of thermodynamics that are the foundation of the branch.