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Branches of Physics

Branches of physics are the subjects studied within the scope of physics. The subject physics can be defined as the branch of science which deals with the study of properties of matter and energy along with the interaction between them. Physicists have divided the subject into various branches and each branch has acquired a title of a full subject in modern days. In this article, let us know in detail about the branches of physics. Table of Contents:

Physics and its Branches

Various branches of physics, thermodynamics, electromagnetism.

Physics is one of the most important subjects in all science; therefore, the branches of science have evolved to understand each and every underlying aspect of the physical world. Physics asks big questions such as:

• How did the universe begin?
• What are the basic building blocks of matter?
• How will the universe change in the future?

Many physicists work really hard and try to find answers to these types of questions. The answers they come up with often lead to unexpected technological applications.

The discovery of gravitation and the knowledge of motion were among the various major breakthroughs made in the field of science. Watch the videos below to understand how these major discoveries impact our life.

The History of Gravitation

Where did Physics Begin?

Physics can be classified into various branches, but classical physics is mainly concerned with energy and matter. The traditional branches of classical physics are Optics, Acoustics, Electromagnetics, and Classical mechanics. With the rapid development of physics, the scope of the subject is growing so large that it is not possible to cover physics under the above branches. A number of main branches of physics are discussed below.

Mechanics is the branch of physics that deals with the motion of an object without or with the reference of force. Mechanics can be further divided into two branches, namely quantum mechanics and classical mechanics. Quantum mechanics deals with the behaviour of the smallest particles like neutrons, protons, and electrons, while classical mechanics is the branch that deals with laws of motion of forces and physical objects.

This branch of physics deals with the behaviour, propagation, and properties of light. Optics can be simply described as the study of the behaviour of infrared light, visible light, and ultraviolet.

Thermodynamics deals with the study of heat and its relation with work and energy. Thermodynamics also deals with the transmission of heat energy by means of convection, conduction, and radiation.

Electromagnetism deals with the study of electromagnetic force like electric fields, light, magnetic fields, etc. There are two aspects of electromagnetism which are “electricity” and “magnetism”.

This branch of physics deals with the theorem that was formulated by Albert Einstein. The theory of relativity states that space and time are relative and all the motion must be relative to a frame of reference.

Acoustics deals with the study of sound and its transmission, production, and effects. Acoustics mainly involves the mechanical waves in gases, liquids, and solids, which include vibration, sound, ultrasound, and infrasound.

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theoretical physics

Theoretical physics is one of two branches of physics: theoretical and experimental. Like almost all other types of physics, quantum physics has both a theoretical physics branch and an experimental physics branch.

Experimental Physics Explained

Explanation: Experimental physicists do experiments to find out how accurately physics theories describe the real world. For example, they shoot atoms and bits of atoms around in particle accelerators. They measure the speed of light when it travels through water versus empty space, and so on.

Theoretical Physics Explained

Now to turn to quantum physics. Quantum physics is the field of physics in which physicists learn about certain types of unusual behavior of particles smaller than atoms but sometimes the size of atoms or even larger. They focus on the “quantum state.” This is the state in which these tiny particles can be in many positions at the same time and where they can act as both waves and particles. Many quantum physicists are theoretical physicists. But many others do experiments.

This is the same in most other fields of physics. For example, physicists who study the physics of heavenly bodies, astrophysicists, can be either theoreticians or experimentalists. The experimentalists often use telescopes for their work. The theoreticians write equations, these days on white boards.

Theoretical Physics and Experimental Physics Become Separate

Before the mid-1900’s, most physicists were both experimentalists and theoreticians. For example, Isaac Newton, who founded modern physics, did many famous experiments. For example, he shot beams of light through prisms. But he also was one of the inventors of calculus, which he used when developing theories which explained the results of his experiments on the motion of objects. Isaac Newton developed the modern type of physics theory—ones which are expressed using mathematical equations. As an example of a mathematical theory, Einstein’s equation, e = mc 2 , is his theory of the relationship between the quantity of energy and of mass.

Today, few, if any, physicists do both theoretical and experimental work. Both fields require extremely specialized knowledge and skills. But theoreticians and experimentalists work closely with each other to push physics forward. This is also true in the field of quantum physics.

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Branches of Physics Explained

Physics is the most principal of all sciences and in this manner, its branches have developed to see each hidden part of this world. From biophysics to molecular Physics, the branches of this discipline offer energizing exploration and open doors for anyone willing to continue on. If you are considering making a profession in Physics, read this article to get a clear perspective of this inconceivable subject.

The division of experimental interests into particular branches like Physics, Biology, and Chemistry, is a man-based thing. The universe, including time, space, energy and matter, knows no divisions. It works as per an arrangement of intelligible laws, making evermore wonderful complex centerpieces. Everything is identified with every other thing in the creation and subsequently, no real division is conceivable. It should be comprehended that this isolation of the whole assortment of learning into sections, is a matter of human comfort.

Physics, in its starting was identified as all-natural philosophy. That time, it wasn’t specialized so considerably, to be split into many differentiated fields. Philosophy is human’s attempt at generating sense of all that takes place in nature, to uncover the root trigger behind every little thing. So in one way or the other, you could nevertheless refer to it as natural philosophy, but it’s the most exact type of science.

As physicists proceeded on exploring deeper in nature, numerous physics branches came up, with a coherent theoretical framework. To describe and give rationale, on all that takes place, from scales lower than the dimension of a nucleus, up to scales greater than galaxies, a diverse branch was developed, at each and every degree. That is simply because, every single branch is based mostly on a set of concepts or approximations, that greatest describe the portents at that degree.

Physics as a discipline can be sub-divided into 4 domains, based on the vitality and dimension scale of the entities concerned. Physics at the dimension scale of planets and footballs, and at velocities of a couple of kilometers per hour, classical mechanics explains it. At lower speeds but size of an atom, the ideal description of the strange phenomena concerned, is presented by quantum mechanics which is taught during our A Level Physics tuition classes for college students. For speeds near to the velocity of light, the very best theoretical framework that can describe all the phenomena is relativistic mechanics. For sizes significantly less than the size of an atomic nucleus, quantum theory offers the most precise explanation of all-natural phenomena.

The physics branches can as well be broadly classified into two kinds, which are Experimental and Theoretical physics. These fields are corresponding to each other. Every single branch has an experimental and a theoretical discipline. Theory can’t be validated with no experiment and experiments are not able to be carried out with no theoretical basis and course.

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Definition And Branches of Physics - SS1 Physics Lesson Note

Definition of physics:.

Physics is the branch of science that deals with the study of fundamental principles of the natural world, including motion, matter, energy, space, time, and the interaction of particles and forces. It involves the study of the physical properties and behaviour of matter and the laws that govern them. Physics aims to understand the fundamental and physical aspects of the universe and explain natural phenomena through mathematical models and experimental observations.

Branches of Physics:

1. Classical Mechanics: Classical mechanics is the branch of physics that deals with the motion of objects under the influence of forces. It encompasses the study of kinematics (description of a body in motion), dynamics (effects of forces motion of objects), and statics (equilibrium of forces). Classical mechanics is based on Newton's laws of motion and provides a foundation for understanding everyday objects and systems.

2. Thermodynamics: Thermodynamics deals with the study of heat, temperature, energy transfer, and the relationship between work and heat. It explores the behaviour of systems in terms of macroscopic variables such as temperature, pressure, and volume. Thermodynamics is crucial in understanding concepts like heat engines, entropy, and energy conservation.

3. Electromagnetism: Electromagnetism studies the interaction between electrically charged particles and electromagnetic fields. It encompasses the study of electric fields, magnetic fields, and their interrelationship. Electromagnetism explains phenomena such as electric charge, electric current, electromagnetic waves, and electromagnetic induction.

4. Optics: Optics is the branch of physics that focuses on the behaviour and properties of light. It involves the study of reflection, refraction, diffraction, polarisation, and the formation of images. Optics play a significant role in understanding how light interacts with matter and how it is used in various optical devices and technologies.

5. Quantum Mechanics: Quantum mechanics is the branch of physics that deals with the behaviour of particles at the atomic and subatomic levels. It provides a mathematical framework to describe particles' dual nature as waves and particles. Quantum mechanics explains phenomena such as wave-particle duality, superposition, and quantum entanglement.

6. Relativity: Relativity encompasses both special relativity and general relativity. Special relativity deals with the behaviour of objects moving at speeds approaching the speed of light and the consequences of such motion. General relativity is concerned with gravity and describes the curvature of spacetime caused by mass and energy.

7. Atomic and Nuclear Physics: Atomic and nuclear physics involve the study of the structure, properties, and behaviour of atoms and nuclei. It examines topics like atomic structure, radioactive decay, nuclear reactions, and nuclear energy.

8. Particle Physics: Particle physics explores the fundamental particles and their interactions. It involves the study of subatomic particles such as quarks, leptons, and gauge bosons, as well as the forces that govern their interactions.

9. Astrophysics: Astrophysics focuses on the study of celestial objects, including stars, galaxies, and the universe as a whole. It combines principles from physics and astronomy to understand the properties, structure, and evolution of these cosmic entities.

10. Condensed Matter Physics: Condensed matter physics deals with studying the physical properties of materials in solid and liquid states. It includes topics such as crystal structure, electronic properties, magnetism, superconductivity, and semiconductors.

These are the major branches of physics, and each branch explores specific aspects of the physical world. Physics is a constantly evolving field that seeks to deepen our understanding of the universe and its fundamental laws.

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Branches of physics

Physics is part of human knowledge that is dedicated to studying and modeling different phenomena that take place in our universe. This science is very broad and for this reason it has been divided into different branches. Physicists choose one of these areas when they finish their degree and specialize in it.

What are the branches of physics

Physics is divided into different branches to facilitate the learning process . It is important to note that we have made a selection of the most relevant areas of physics. However, many of them coexist with each other. That is, there is no total separation.

Surely, as we delve deeper and deeper into our universe, new branches of physics will emerge. Many of the fields that exist today in the physical sciences emerged during the 20th century, that is, they are not more than a century old.

Classic mechanics

The field of classical mechanics or classical physics It is based on the laws that Newton postulated in his book Principia Mathematica in 1687. These famous physical laws describe the movement of bodies and the forces exerted on them.

This field of physical sciences also includes reformulations of classical mechanics known as Hamiltonian mechanics and Lagrangian mechanics that generalize Newton's laws and in many cases, these reformulations are more useful since they facilitate calculations.

Within this branch of physics, sub-branches are included that are also necessary to mention since they have been vital for the modern formulation of physics. These are:

The kinematics is the study of the laws of motion of bodies . Its objective is to predict the position, speed and acceleration of the study bodies. Some examples of laws studied by kinematics are uniform rectilinear motion (MRU), accelerated uniform rectilinear motion (MRUA), parabolic trajectories or simple harmonic motion, basic in the study of springs or pendulums.

We have seen that the kinematics studies the movement of bodies , but without understanding what generates this displacement of bodies. Dynamics is the field of classical physics that studies the forces that are generated on bodies. The main equation is the one provided by Newton's second law, the famous F=ma. From this expression we can analyze the forces on objects and the accelerations necessary to generate said force.

Statics is the branch of classical systems mechanics that studies the forces that act on rigid systems that are in equilibrium , that is, their acceleration is zero as no external forces act on them.

If you want to learn more you can read our interesting article on classical physics .

Quantum mechanics

Quantum mechanics It is the part of physics that studies the smallest world in the universe , that is, to the atomic and subatomic world. To do this, it uses the famous Schrödinger equation that describes the temporal evolution of a quantum system.

Quantum physics has many applications within the physical sciences and technology themselves. It is essential in relativistic quantum mechanics, quantum field theory, quantum chemistry and the study of condensed matter.

In the world of technology it is also very useful. It is essential in quantum computing or in various areas of nanotechnology.

Relativity is the field of physics that includes two of the most important contributions to modern physics made by the famous physicist Albert Einstein.

This includes special relativity and general relativity.

Special relativity

Special relativity tells us that two observers can witness different realities . Therefore, physical quantities that were believed to be absolute, such as time, become relative.

This discipline of physics also studies the mathematical relationships between observers with different coordinate points through what are known as Lorentz transformations. The physical laws of two observers with a different point of view of reality do not change under these mathematical transformations. They are Lorentz invariants.

For example, Newton's laws do not depend on the coordinates of the observer, they are universal and independent of the person's point of view.

General relativity

general relativity generalizes special relativity and adds time to the equation . It tells us that time and space are part of the same set known as space-time.

The basis of general relativity is Einstein's field equations that relate the density of an object to the deformation it causes in spacetime.

It explains gravity, which treats it as the geometric consequence of the curvature of the fabric of space-time.

To understand this discipline, advanced mathematical knowledge of differential geometry, tensor algebra and topology is necessary.

Thermodynamics

thermodynamics studies energy transfers and more specifically heat and work that can be generated with this. Thermodynamics studies systems at a macroscopic level and from its study derives the three famous laws of thermodynamics.

He First Law of thermodynamics It postulates that energy is neither created nor destroyed, only transformed. It is the principle of conservation of energy or what is the same, the internal energy of a closed system does not vary.

The Second law of thermodynamics discusses one of the most difficult terms to understand, entropy. This principle says that the total energy of the universe always increases. It is possible that locally the entropy decreases thanks to the contribution of external energy. However, the total entropy of the universe always increases.

The Third law of thermodynamics says that it is impossible to reach absolute zero (-273.15 ºC).

The field of thermodynamics uses these principles as a basis for deriving the rest of the equations.

statistical physics

Statistical physics is the study of physical systems from a microscopic and statistical point of view . We could say that it is the microscopic version of thermodynamics.

As we have seen previously, thermodynamics studies magnitudes at a macroscopic level. In statistical physics we see these magnitudes as an average of what happens at the molecular level.

For example, we can see temperature as an average of the kinetic speed of the particles. Therefore, by averaging this energy we can obtain the macroscopic variable that would be the temperature.

Another example is entropy. At the molecular level, entropy is defined as a magnitude proportional to the number of microstates of a system. Therefore, using statistical mechanics we can calculate all the microstates of a system and obtain the macroscopic variable, which in this case is entropy.

If we apply the laws of quantum mechanics to statistical physics, then we have quantum statistical mechanics.

The optics is the field of physics that studies the properties and behavior of light in different situations.

Some of these phenomena are refraction, reflection or dispersion of photons when interacting with matter.

Optics has many applications in our daily lives. For example, our glasses or the microscopes used in laboratories around the world are possible thanks to this branch of science.

It is also essential for me to write this publication and for you to read it since its principles are what make the transfer of information through fiber optics possible.

Acoustics is the study of the propagation of mechanical waves through different media. It basically consists of understanding the behavior of sounds and ultrasounds and how they affect bodies.

Within this branch of physics there are different sub-branches depending on the area of ​​science where the laws of acoustics are applied. Some of them are:

Bioacoustics

Study the different mechanisms by which animals use sounds to interact with their environment. For example, bats use ultrasound to orient themselves, dolphins use low and high frequency sound emissions for echolocation, or dogs bark to communicate.

Aeroacoustics

Aeroacoustics investigates the sounds generated by turbulent fluid flows. A common application is to try to reduce the sound generated at airports by airplanes and reduce the stress that these sounds can generate for the inhabitants of places near airports.

Electroacoustics

The branch of electroacoustics studies the transformation of electrical impulses into sounds and vice versa. It is essential to be able to design quality speakers or microphones.

musical acoustics

Musical acoustics attempts to understand the physics of sounds. Understand how these spread through instruments or human voices. In this way you can improve musical instruments and achieve better sound quality.

Fluid mechanics

This area of ​​science focuses on studying the behavior of liquids and gases in motion and at rest. The motion of fluids can be described using the famous Navier-Stokes equations.

With these equations, highly complex phenomena such as the dynamics of the atmosphere, ocean currents or the air flow generated by airplanes can be described.

The Navier-Stokes equations are very complex and there are no analytical solutions for it. That is why numerical calculations must be used to approximate the solutions to these problems.

Meteorology

Meteorology is the field of physics that studies weather through fluid physics applied to the atmosphere. Through complicated calculations, often carried out on supercomputers, the behavior of the wind or clouds can be approximated and the weather in the coming days can be predicted quite accurately.

The biophysics It is the area of ​​knowledge that combines the knowledge of biology and physics to understand different phenomena that occur in living beings.

Experts in this branch of physics have to understand very well the relationship between these two scientific disciplines to understand in detail the biochemical processes that take place in living organisms. There are different branches within biophysics. Let's look at some examples.

structural biology

Structural biology uses supercomputers to carry out complex calculations and simulate the dynamics of proteins or genetic material. Some applications of structural biology are the design of enzymes or drugs.

Bioenergetics

Bioenergetics aims to study the energy transfer that takes place through different metabolic pathways. The generation of energy molecules such as ATP or its use to carry out all vital functions are objects of study in this discipline.

Cosmology is the area of ​​knowledge that aims to understand the birth and evolution of our universe. Cosmology makes use of other branches of the physical sciences such as astronomy or astrophysics to describe the behavior of the universe as a whole.

Astrophysics

Astrophysics makes use of theories from theoretical physics such as general relativity or statistical mechanics to describe astronomical objects. The creation or death of stars is an important field of astrophysics.

Although surely one of the most exciting is the study of objects as mysterious as black holes or the existence of other worlds accessible through wormholes.

chemical physics

Chemical physics is the area of ​​science that uses physical models to study chemical systems. It is very common to use quantum mechanics and statistical physics to study chemical reactions and understand how catalysis mechanisms work.

This branch also has a high application in structural biology where quantum methods are used for the study and optimization of enzymatic reactions.

Mathematical Physics

Mathematical physics is the area of ​​science that aims to find mathematical tools that can be used to describe physical phenomena.

For example, general relativity makes use of complex tools of mathematics such as differential geometry or tensor algebra.

Other fields of physics such as quantum field theory use perturbation theory or abstract group algebra to model the fundamental interactions of nature.

Nuclear physics

Nuclear physics aims to understand the behavior of atomic nuclei and the energy they generate. Understanding nuclear fission made it possible to create nuclear power plants and generate energy in them.

Now, one of the main goals of high energy physics is to master nuclear fusion since it is a much cleaner type of energy than the nuclear fission that we have used to date.

Particle or high energy physics

Particle physics is the branch of physics that studies the different fundamental particles and their behavior. It uses the standard model to understand the evolution of these particles.

Interactions between particles are studied using quantum field theory which describes fundamental particles as excitations of quantum fields.

At CERN, experiments are carried out to try to understand these most fundamental particles from an empirical point of view and in this way confirm or discard the theoretical models that exist.

Geophysics is the branch of knowledge that uses physics to understand the phenomena of our planet, planet Earth.

Some of the main applications of geophysics are the study of earthquakes and the propagation of waves through the Earth's layer, the study of plate dynamics or the radiation and heat generation processes induced by events such as volcanoes.

Electromagnetism

Electromagnetism is the study of electric and magnetic fields and the behavior of the particles found in them.

Maxwell's laws unify the different studies on electromagnetism that existed and allow us to classically describe the forces of electric and magnetic fields and make predictions of how bodies immersed in these fields are affected.

Later, from the classical version of fields, the quantum version of fields was developed, giving rise to the branch that studies electromagnetism at a quantum level: quantum electrodynamics.

Quantum electrodynamics is one of the most precise theories we have today, reaching a precision with experimental studies of up to eleven decimals.

string theory

String theory is the area of ​​physics that proposes that everything is made up of small fundamental strings that vibrate in different dimensions. Depending on the mode of vibration, one type of particles or others would be generated.

This theory attempts to unify all existing theories to date. It is spectacularly beautiful since general relativity and many aspects of quantum mechanics naturally emerge from it.

It is the candidate to be the theory of everything, but there is still a lot of work to be done both physically and mathematically to complete this spectacular theory. To learn more I recommend reading our article on string theory .

Condensed matter physics

Condensed matter physics is surely the branch of physics with the most scientists working on it.

It includes the study of the macroscopic properties and transformations of matter such as density, hardness or temperature.

This knowledge is used by engineers to create new technologies or improve existing ones.