Physics Definition

Physics is a science that is responsible for the study and interpretation of physical phenomena that occur in nature, this implies the analysis of concepts such as matter, energy and space, as well as the interaction between them. For this reason, Physics is the basis of many careers such as Engineering, Architecture and practically all areas that directly or indirectly apply its theories, postulates or discoveries.

The basic sciences such as Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry, are usually related and supported to give a coherent explanation and demonstration to the theories and laws that are developed in each of these areas. For this reason, practically all school programs incorporate Physics in their academic content, generally from secondary school levels, where the student already has adequate training in the area of ​​Mathematics and is capable of understanding and applying the fundamentals that are studied at that level. level.

Life, as it is known today, is practically impossible to conceive without the application of Physics, which has been the pillar of an infinity of scientific and theoretical advances that we know of, and that are still in development: from electricity , microprocessors, buildings, vehicles, machinery, telecommunications and even the knowledge we have of the cosmos, is thanks to this science.

Even in areas that would be weighed outside the field of Physics, they have used their knowledge to create important applications at the service of humanity, as in the case of medicine, whose discipline has relied on medical equipment in recent decades to the diagnosis, intervention and treatment of patients; for example, magnetic resonance equipment, electron microscope, radiation for cancer treatment, laparoscopy equipment, medical prostheses, Doppler ultrasound, among others.

Branches of physics

Since Physics studies and explains natural phenomena, it is evident that it is a whole universe of knowledge, which in order to be approached, assimilated and developed, it has become necessary to separate it into different areas or also called branches; considering the nature and field of study it covers.

As shown in the image, Physics can be broken down into various categories, and these, in turn, are classified into other sub-areas. For example, based on the chronological order in which the theories and discoveries have been presented, most authors classify Physics as:

classical physics: this area covers mechanics, thermodynamics, electromagnetism, optics and acoustics studied before 1900 (1), and one of the most renowned speakers in this stage of Physics was Isaac Newton, mainly in the branch of Classical Mechanics. Each of these branches is briefly described below:

• Mechanics: is the area of ​​Physics that studies the movement (or rest) of matter in space (2). Since Newton postulated the laws of mechanics in 1687 in his work “Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy”, it has been possible to explain a large number of phenomena and make great strides in the advancement of science and technology.

In turn, within mechanics there are three important fields, such as:

either static: is the area of ​​mechanics that studies bodies at rest subjected to the action of forces.

either Kinematics: is another branch of mechanical physics that studies movement without considering the causes that produce it, applied to particles and systems of particles.

either Dynamic: This branch of mechanics studies the movement of bodies in terms of the causes and the effect that produce it.

• Thermodynamics: this branch studies the energy and the explanation of the physical systems according to their state of equilibrium, where the characteristics are generated by internal factors of the system and not by the exterior.

• Electromagnetism: This branch studies what concerns charges and the links between electricity and magnetism, considering the interactions between charges and their movements.

• Optics: is a branch that deals with the study of light and its behavior, interaction, applications and measurement of the phenomena associated with light and its properties.

• Acoustics: covers the study of sound waves, describing their behavior, propagation and interaction of sound with the environment.

Modern physics: As its name indicates, this stage of Physics has meant a great revolution that has been gestated and evolved since the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century. His main theories developed from 1900 are quantum theory and relativity, Albert Einstein being one of the main speakers of modern Physics.

• Quantum physics: This branch of Physics studies matter at atomic or subatomic scales, based on various principles such as wave-particle duality or the uncertainty principle.

• relative physics: in this branch is the theory of spatial relativity and that of general relativity. Relativity and its theories originated mainly through mental experiments and mathematical models rather than in the laboratory, however, its postulates and conclusions, such as the equivalence between mass and energy, embodied in the famous expression E = m.c2, have given origin of important and even controversial inventions, related, for example, to nuclear energy such as the atomic bomb.

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