Outline of physical science explained

Physical science is a branch of natural science that studies non-living systems, in contrast to life science. It in turn has many branches, each referred to as a "physical science", together is called the "physical sciences".

Definition

Physical science can be described as all of the following:

Branches of physical science

History of physical science

History of physical science – history of the branch of natural science that studies non-living systems, in contrast to the life sciences. It in turn has many branches, each referred to as a "physical science", together called the "physical sciences". However, the term "physical" creates an unintended, somewhat arbitrary distinction, since many branches of physical science also study biological phenomena (organic chemistry, for example). The four main branches of physical science are astronomy, physics, chemistry, and the Earth sciences, which include meteorology and geology.

General principles of the physical sciences

Basic principles of physics

Physics – branch of science that studies matter[4] and its motion through space and time, along with related concepts such as energy and force.[5] Physics is one of the "fundamental sciences" because the other natural sciences (like biology, geology etc.) deal with systems that seem to obey the laws of physics. According to physics, the physical laws of matter, energy and the fundamental forces of nature govern the interactions between particles and physical entities (such as planets, molecules, atoms or the subatomic particles). Some of the basic pursuits of physics, which include some of the most prominent developments in modern science in the last millennium, include:

Basic principles of astronomy

Astronomyscience of celestial bodies and their interactions in space. Its studies include the following:

(Note: Astronomy should not be confused with astrology, which assumes[9] [10] [11] that people's destiny and human affairs in general correlate to the apparent positions of astronomical objects in the sky – although the two fields share a common origin, they are quite different; astronomers embrace the scientific method, while astrologers do not.)

Basic principles of chemistry

Chemistry – branch of science that studies the composition, structure, properties and change of matter.[7] [8] Chemistry is chiefly concerned with atoms and molecules and their interactions and transformations, for example, the properties of the chemical bonds formed between atoms to create chemical compounds. As such, chemistry studies the involvement of electrons and various forms of energy in photochemical reactions, oxidation-reduction reactions, changes in phases of matter, and separation of mixtures. Preparation and properties of complex substances, such as alloys, polymers, biological molecules, and pharmaceutical agents are considered in specialized fields of chemistry.

Basic principles of Earth science

Earth science – the science of the planet Earth, the only identified life-bearing planet. Its studies include the following:

Notable physical scientists

Earth scientists

See also

References

Works cited

External links

Notes and References

  1. Book: Wilson . Edward O. . Consilience: The Unity of Knowledge . 1st . Vintage Books . New York, NY . 1998 . 0-679-45077-7 . 49–71 . registration .
  2. "... modern science is a discovery as well as an invention. It was a discovery that nature generally acts regularly enough to be described by laws and even by mathematics; and required invention to devise the techniques, abstractions, apparatus, and organization for exhibiting the regularities and securing their law-like descriptions." —p.vii, J. L. Heilbron, (2003, editor-in-chief). The Oxford Companion to the History of Modern Science. New York: Oxford University Press. .
  3. Encyclopedia: Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary . science . 2011-10-16 . Merriam-Webster, Inc . 3 a: knowledge or a system of knowledge covering general truths or the operation of general laws especially as obtained and tested through scientific method b: such knowledge or such a system of knowledge concerned with the physical world and its phenomena .
  4. At the start of The Feynman Lectures on Physics, Richard Feynman offers the atomic hypothesis as the single most prolific scientific concept: "If, in some cataclysm, all [] scientific knowledge were to be destroyed [save] one sentence   [...] what statement would contain the most information in the fewest words? I believe it is  [...] that all things are made up of atoms  – little particles that move around in perpetual motion, attracting each other when they are a little distance apart, but repelling upon being squeezed into one another ..."
  5. "Physical science is that department of knowledge which relates to the order of nature, or, in other words, to the regular succession of events."
  6. "Physics is the study of your world and the world and universe around you."
  7. Web site: What is Chemistry? . https://web.archive.org/web/20210103071622/http://chemweb.ucc.ie/what_is_chemistry.htm. 3 January 2021 . Chemweb.ucc.ie . John B. . Russell.
  8. http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/Chemistry Chemistry
  9. Web site: What's the difference between astronomy and astrology? (Beginner) – Curious About Astronomy? Ask an Astronomer. Scharringhausen. Britt. curious.astro.cornell.edu . en-gb. 2017-05-27.
  10. Web site: July 14, 2014. Astrology vs Astronomy: What's the Difference?. Maria. Temming. Sky & Telescope.
  11. Web site: astrology Origin and meaning of astrology by Online Etymology Dictionary. www.etymonline.com . 2017-10-17.