In
science, the term
natural science refers to a
rational approach to the study of the
universe, which is understood as obeying
rules or
laws of
natural origin. The term
natural science is also used to distinguish those fields that use the
scientific method to study
nature from the
social sciences, which use the scientific method to study human behavior and society; and from the
formal sciences, such as
mathematics and
logic, which use a different
methodology.
Physical science is an encompassing term for the branches of natural science, and science, that study non-living systems, in contrast to the biological sciences. However, the term "physical" creates an unintended, somewhat arbitrary distinction, since many branches of physical science also study biological phenomena.
