Monzon, Jerieko L.

[19127593]

BSPsy 2F

What is Physics?

Physics is the science of matter and its motion—the study that deals with concepts such as force, energy,
mass, and charge. It is one of the oldest discipline of science, along with chemistry.

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, not until 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.

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

Importance of Physics

Physics are important in our daily lives because of the following reasons:

1. Physics is an exciting intellectual adventure that inspires young people and expands the frontiers
of our knowledge about Nature.
2. Physics generates fundamental knowledge needed for the future technological advances that will
continue to drive the economic engines of the world.
3. Physics contributes to the technological infrastructure and provides trained personnel needed to
take advantage of scientific advances and discoveries.
4. Physics is an important element in the education of chemists, engineers and computer scientists,
as well as practitioners of the other physical and biomedical sciences.
5. Physics extends and enhances our understanding of other disciplines, such as the earth,
agricultural, chemical, biological, and environmental sciences, plus astrophysics and cosmology
- subjects of substantial importance to all peoples of the world.
6. Physics improves our quality of life by providing the basic understanding necessary for
developing new instrumentation and techniques for medical applications, such as computer
tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, positron emission tomography, ultrasonic imaging,
and laser surgery.

Fields of Physics

 Classical Physics. Deals with different laws of motion and gravitation.

 Modern Physics. Centred around the two theories of relativity and quantum mechanics. Albert
Einstein and Ma
 Nuclear Physics. Concerned with the constituents, structure, behaviour and interactions of
atomic nuclei.
 Atomic Physics. Concerned with the composition of the atom apart from the nucleus.
 Geophysics. Study of the Earth's physics and structure using mathematical and physical
methods.
 Biophysics. Deals with how physics applies to the processes of biology.
 Mechanics. Study of the motion of bodies in a frame of reference.
 Acoustics. Study of sound and sound waves.
 Optics. Study of the physical properties of light.
 Thermodynamics. Physics of heat.
 Astrophysics. Study of space, including the planets, stars, galaxies, deep space, and the universe.