In this page ,we shall be discussing on our needs to enter and learn the world of Physics.
The study of physics encompasses all forms of matter and its motion in space and time. It renders a passport to the human mind to land anywhere on the cosmic world. The application of physics is fundamental towards significant contributions in new technologies that arise from theoretical breakthroughs. Physics is the foundation of many important disciplines and contributes directly to other disciplines too.
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 is undertaken. Physicists have divided the subject into various branches and each branch has acquired a title of a full subject in modern days.
and talk in this field of study.
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 is undertaken. Physicists have divided the subject into various branches and each branch has acquired a title of a full subject in modern days.
- Mechanical physics / Mechanics
- Magnetism
- Electricity and electronics
- Electromagnetism
- Sound and oscillation
- Acoustics
- Thermodynamics
- Optics
- Geo physics
- Plasma physics
- Nuclear physics
- Astrophysics
Classical Physics
Among the popular branches of physics is classical physics. It primarily deals with different laws of motion and gravitation. These theories are conceptualized by Sir Isaac Newton and James Clark. They are Maxwell’s kinetic theory and theory of thermodynamics. This branch of physics is concerned with matter and energy. Classical Physics can simply be termed as Physics which dates back to 1900 and before. Everything that comes under the discipline of physics after that era, that is after 1900, is considered to be modern physics. In classical physics, energy and matter are dealt with separately. As a general belief, the theories which are termed invalid in modern physics is immediately considered to be a part of classical physics.
Modern Physics
Modern Physics is primarily centred around the two theories of relativity and quantum mechanics. Albert Einstein and Max Plank are the pioneers of this branch of physics. They were the first to propound the theory of relativity and quantum mechanics. Unlike the classical branch of Physics, the branch of modern physics doesn’t consider energy and matter as different entities. Here they are only called the two different forms of each other.
1. Mechanical Physics / Mechanics
a. Mechanics
One of the most basic and fundamental branches of classical physics, mechanics is concerned with the study of movements and motions of material objects and how these objects are affected by and interact with other different forces.
Mechanics explores the different concepts of physics such as force, matter, and motion and studies its laws, properties, and applications. Quite ironically, this branch of physics further has sub-branches, namely classical mechanics and quantum mechanics.
While classical mechanics focus on the laws of motions and how they affect material objects; on the other hand, quantum mechanics focuses on how these forces mentioned thereof act on the smallest of the particles such as electrons, protons, and neutrons.’
Mechanics
Mechanics is a branch of physics that focuses on the movement and motion of physical objects under a force and when at rest. It studies the relationship between different concepts like force, matter and motion. Forces applied to objects result in displacements or changes of an object’s position relative to its environment. It studies the law of motion, gravitation, friction, displacement and concerts like force, energy and power.
b. Quantum Physics
Mechanics is one of the sub-fields of Quantum Physics.
Quantum mechanics is the branch of physics needed to deal with submicroscopic objects. Like relativity, quantum mechanics has been shown to be valid—the truth is often stranger than fiction.
Apart from Quantum Physics, Atomic Physics and Molecular Physics are also important subfields.
However, as per a few definitions, Quantum mechanics is a fundamental theory in physics that provides a description of the physical properties of nature at the scale of atoms and subatomic particles.
Atomic Physics
Atomic physics is also in the list of branches of physics. It is concerned with the composition of the atom apart from the nucleus. It is primarily concerned with studying and understanding the behaviour of electrons in the shells around the nucleus.
This branch of physics deals with electrons, ions, and neutral atoms. Among the first and foremost forays into atomic physics was a recognition that all matter is comprised of atoms. The beginning of atomic physics is associated with the discovery of spectral lines. This discovery gave way for an entirely new understanding of the structure of atoms and their arrangement.
2. Magnetism
Magnetism explores the properties of a magnet and how magnetic forces and fields act or react when they interact with other forces or even each other.
It’s no secret to us that magnetic forces act in two directions, i.e., South and North. This is exactly what is studied here, i.e., the forces exerted by magnets when they attract or repel one another.
It also studies how these magnetic fields react when they come in contact with different forces like the gravitational field and electric field, or how magnets are made, to begin with, and how or if they lose their properties over time or not. Its concepts like these make it one of the most interesting branches of physics.
3. Electricity and Electronics
Electricity and electronics are two different branches of physics but very close to each other, hence we decided to put them in the same category.
While electricity refers to the branch of physics which is concerned with the study of properties and movements of electrically charged particles of an object, including on a much deeper level, i.e., of electrons and protons, it also explores the various concepts of electricity such as, resistance, current, AC and DC, and happens to be quite entangled with the branch magnetism, which we are going to discuss next.
On the other hand, Electronics simply refers to the branch of physics where they study applications of electricity and how it works on various appliances and new pieces of technology.
4. Electromagnetism
As mentioned above, magnetism and electricity are quite interrelated with each other, and that is because movements of electrical charges end up creating magnetic fields while manipulation of magnetic fields renders to the production of electricity.
Electromagnetism refers to the study of the magnetic forces and fields that are created via the movements of electrical charges and vice versa.
5. Sound and Oscillation
This is one of the most fundamental branches of physics which studies objects in a state of oscillation or vibration, being in a constant state of motion which may be linear or to and fro.
That being said, when an oscillating object has frequency lying within an audible range, the sound is produced. Different frequencies of oscillating objects produce different vibrations into the air, which may or may not be of the audible range.
This branch studies the various properties of different oscillating objects and how their vibrations and frequencies vary from one another. It also explores the various frequency ranges, their effect on other objects and living beings, etc. It’s quite an interesting topic to study, especially for kids.
6. Acoustics
This branch is quite interrelated with sound and oscillation. However, acoustics aims to explore the concepts of how the mechanical sound waves transmit through different objects and mediums i.e., solids, liquids, and gases.
It studies what effect these vibrations bring on to the medium that it’s traveling through and how the medium as well affects these waves. To be put simply, it focuses on the production, control, transmission, and reception of these sound waves and also their effects.
Acoustics also studies vibrations that belong to the inaudible ranges of frequency, i.e., ultrasounds and infrasound.
Acoustics
Acoustics is a branch of physics that studies sound. It studies the mechanical waves passing through different forms like gases, liquids and solids. It studies vibrations and focuses on the production, control, transmission, reception, and effects of sound. It studies concepts like vibration, sound, ultrasound and infrasound.
7. Thermodynamics
This is a branch of physics that deals with the concept of heat and studies its relation to work and energy. It also studies the way heat is transmitted between objects and from one medium to another and how it affects the medium and the energy itself.
There are several ways in which heat can be transmitted into different mediums, it could be convection, conduction, and radiation, unlike sound which has to otherwise be directly in contact with the medium in order to travel through it via its vibrations.
Thermodynamics
Thermodynamics is a branch of physics concerned with heat and other forms of energy. It focuses on the transfer of energy from one form to another. It was introduced in the 19th century while scientists worked on steam engines. There are three laws of thermodynamics that are the foundation of the branch.
8. Optics
In this branch of physics, the properties and behavior of light are studied, along with the properties of non-opaque, semi-opaque, and reflective objects and how they interact with light. Even opaque objects are discussed since their colors reflect light.
Just like sound, light too has wavelengths, which categorizes them into visible and non-visible ranges. Hence, the properties of non-visible lights such as ultraviolet and infrared lights are studied as well, along with their properties of radiation. This is also where thermodynamics comes in as well.
Optics
Optics is a significant Science branch of physics that studies light and its properties. Optics focuses on studying behaviour, properties of light, its interactions with matter and the changes in these behaviour and interactions. The branch studies the behaviour of visible, ultraviolet, and infrared light. There are two branches within the field, Physical and Geometrical Optics. Physical is concerned with the nature of light and other attributes while geometrical focuses on light interactions with lenses, mirrors and other devices.
9. Geo-physics
This branch of physics is rather a part of natural science since it attempts to study the behavior of geographical bodies and how studies its movements affect different other bodies on the planet.
It studies the physical processes and properties of the earth and the space environment surrounding it.
It uses several quantitative (and sometimes qualitative) methods of research for analysis and reaching down to a conclusion.
10. Plasma Physics
Most of us at school have been taught about the 3 states of matter, i.e., solids, liquids, and gasses, however, there also happens to be the fourth state of matter, i.e., plasma.
The study which involves the properties and behavior of this fourth state of matter is what is meant by the plasma physics.
Plasmas are the object of study of the academic field of plasma science or plasma physics, including sub-disciplines such as space plasma physics. It currently involves the following fields of active research and features across many journals, whose interest includes:
Plasma theory Plasma applications
Plasmas in nature Dielectric barrier discharge
Industrial plasmas Ion implantation
Plasma diagnostics Plasma window
11. Nuclear Physics
Who knew something so small could have a whole branch of physics dedicated to it?
Nuclear physics refers to the branch of physics which studies the nucleus of an atom, which consists of protons and neutrons. It studies various forces and interactions within the nucleus that holds the whole thing together. The study is limited to such a small thing, and yet is one of the most complex branches of physics.
This is a branch of physics that is concerned with the constituents, structure, behaviour and interactions of atomic nuclei. This branch of physics is different from that of atomic physics.
Latter studies the atom, including its electrons. In contemporary times, nuclear physics has become a very broad area of study and extended its scope manifolds. Methodologies and principles of this subject are applied to other academic and research areas.
It is used in power generation, nuclear weapons, magnetic resonance, imaging, medicines, industrial and agricultural isotopes.
12. Astrophysics
Astrophysics is an important branch of physics. It is a sub-field within astronomy.
The field of astrophysics applies the laws of physics and chemistry to explain the birth, life, and death of stars, planets, galaxies, nebulae, and other objects in the universe. It is very closely related to astronomy and cosmology.
Astrophysics applies the principles of physics and chemistry to ascertain the nature of astronomical objects, rather than their positions or motions in space.
Space science is a subset of astronomy that primarily studies celestial objects and their composition by applying the laws and principles of physics to explain the phenomenon. The study of astronomy and its branches can be dated back to Greek philosophers like Aristotle who sought to study space and its components but it was Galileo and Newton that transformed the tradition of astronomy and its study. The study of cosmology and planetary science is closely associated with astrophysics and often referred to as sister sciences.
13. Biophysics
Biophysics is a vibrant scientific field where scientists from many fields including math, chemistry, physics, engineering, pharmacology, and materials sciences, use their skills to explore and develop new tools for understanding how biology, all life works.
Biophysics covers all scales of biological organization, from molecular to organismic and populations. Biophysical research shares significant overlap with biochemistry, molecular biology, physical chemistry, physiology, nanotechnology, bioengineering, computational biology, biomechanics, developmental biology and systems biology.
Biology and molecular biology – Almost all forms of biophysics efforts are included in some biology department somewhere. Typical examples include: gene regulation, single protein dynamics, bioenergetics, patch clamping, biomechanics, virophysics.
In addition to traditional (i.e. molecular and cellular) biophysical topics like structural biology or enzyme kinetics, modern biophysics encompasses an extraordinarily broad range of research, from bioelectronics to quantum biology involving both experimental and theoretical tools. It is becoming increasingly common for biophysicists to apply the models and experimental techniques derived from physics, as well as mathematics and statistics, to larger systems such as tissues, organs, populations and ecosystems. Biophysical models are used extensively in the study of electrical conduction in single neurons, as well as neural circuit analysis in both tissue and whole brain.
