List of basic physics topics

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For a more comprehensive list, see the List of physics topics.

Physics is the science concerned with the discovery and understanding of the fundamental laws which govern matter, energy, space, and time. Physics deals with the elementary constituents of the Universe and their interactions, as well as the analysis of systems best understood in terms of these fundamental principles. Because physics treats the core workings of the universe, including the quantum mechanical details which underpin all atomic interactions, it can be thought of as the foundational science, upon which stands the "central science" of chemistry, the earth sciences, biological sciences, and social sciences. Discoveries in basic physics have important ramifications for all of science. Basic topics in physics include:

Contents 1 Nature of physics 2 Branches of physics 3 History of physics 4 Basic physics concepts 5 Famous physicists 6 Physics lists 7 See also 8 Notes 9 External links

[edit] Nature of physics

Main article: Physics

For students, there is a school course which starts with Physics First. The Physical Science Study Committee (1956) committed to production of the textbook PSSC Physics (1960). Other efforts include the Berkeley physics series and the Feynman Lectures on Physics.

[edit] Branches of physics

• Astrophysics
• Atomic physics
• Biophysics
• Chemical Physics
• Classical physics
• Condensed matter physics
• Molecular physics
• Nuclear Physics
• Optical physics
• Particle Physics
• Quantum Physics
• Thermodynamics

[edit] History of physics

Main article: History of physics

[edit] Basic physics concepts

• General concepts

Gravity - Light - Physical system - Physical observation - Physical quantity - Physical state - Physical unit - Physical theory - Physical experiment -

• Theoretical concepts

E=mc² - Particle - Physical field - Physical interaction - Physical law - Fundamental force - Physical constant - Wave

• Basic quantities

Space - Length - Time - Mass - Electric charge - Energy - Matter - Potential - Force - Momentum - Velocity - Acceleration - Entropy - Temperature

• Subfields

Acoustics - Aerodynamics - Classical mechanics - Condensed matter physics - Cosmology - Dynamics - Electromagnetism - Hydrodynamics - Kinematics - Mathematical physics - Mechanics - Optics - plasma physics - Quantum mechanics - Relativity - Statics - Thermodynamics

[edit] Famous physicists

Main list: List of physicists

• Archimedes - Laid down the laws of flotation and developed Archimedes' principle.^[1]
• Neils Bohr - made fundamental contributions to understanding atomic structure and quantum mechanics. Widely considered one of the greatest physicists of the twentieth century.
• Albert Einstein - Greatest scientist of the 20th century, and possibly of all time. Developed both the Special and General Theories of Relativity.
• Richard Feynman - Expanded the theory of quantum electrodynamics, and developed the tool known as Feynman diagrams.
• Isaac Newton - Laid the groundwork for classical mechanics.
• Robert Oppenheimer - "Father of the atomic bomb."

[edit] Physics lists

Main article: List of physics topics

• List of Common Physics Abbreviations
• List of games using physics engines
• List of important publications in physics
• List of noise topics
• List of optical topics
• List of physicists
• List of physics-based computer and video games
• List of scientific journals in physics

[edit] See also

• Glossary of classical physics

[edit] Notes

[edit] External links

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