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'''Physics''' is the branch of [[physical science]] that traditionally deals with [[matter]], [[energy]], [[force]], and [[motion]].  These concepts can be applied to virtually any area of the physical sciences; therefore, physics is often considered to be the most fundamental branch of science.  Indeed, according to [[reductionism|reductionist]] thought, all other branches of science are specialized subdivisions of physics.

'''Physics''' is the branch of [[physical science]] that traditionally deals with [[matter]], [[energy]], [[force]], and [[motion]].  These concepts can be applied to virtually any area of the physical sciences; therefore, physics is often considered to be the most fundamental branch of science.  Indeed, according to [[reductionism|reductionist]] thought, all other branches of science are specialized subdivisions of physics.

== Classical and Modern Physics ==

== Classical and Modern Physics ==

[[Classical physics]] generally encompasses all areas of physics that were well-understood by the end of the 19th century (i.e., before the events that led to the advent of the theory of relativity and quantum mechanics).  It is applicable to problems on an "everyday" scale; that is, situations in which energies are large enough to permit one to neglect quantum effects, but small enough to neglect relativistic effects.  Areas of study within classical physics include

[[Classical physics]] generally encompasses all areas of physics that were well-understood by the end of the 19th century (i.e., before the events that led to the advent of the theory of relativity and quantum mechanics).  It is applicable to problems on an "everyday" scale; that is, situations in which energies are large enough to permit one to neglect quantum effects, but small enough to neglect relativistic effects.  Areas of study within classical physics include

*[[Thermodynamics]], the study of [[energy]], [[heat]], [[work]], [[entropy]] and its transformations

*[[Thermodynamics]], the study of [[energy]], [[heat]], [[work]], [[entropy]] and its transformations

*[[Electromagnetism]], the study of the electric and magnetic phenomena and [[light]]

*[[Electromagnetism]], the study of the electric and magnetic phenomena and [[light]]

*[[Optics]], the study of light and it's interactions such as [[refraction]] and [[diffraction]]

*[[Optics]], the study of light and its interactions such as [[refraction]] and [[diffraction]]

*[[Astronomy]], only that if planetary motion

*[[Astronomy]], only that if planetary motion

===Scientific Revolution===

===Scientific Revolution===

[[Image:Nicolaus Copernicus.jpg|thumb|[[Nicolaus Copernicus]].]]

[[Image:Nicolaus Copernicus.jpg|thumb|[[Nicolaus Copernicus]].]]

As [[scientific method]]ology became further developed, the Aristotelian view came under scrutiny. Europe became the leading centre of scientific research by the 16th century. Force and motion had become topics of interest among scientists of the day.  [[Galileo Galilei]] performed a series of experiments involving rolling balls down inclined planes, and [[Johannes Kepler]] found [[Kepler's laws of planetary motion|mathematical relations]] governing the motion of the [[planet]].  [[Isaac Newton]] was able to explain the results of Galileo and Kepler through the use of three succinct [[Newton's Laws of Motion|laws of motion]] and an expression that accounted for [[gravity|gravitational]] force.  Newton also made important contributions to the field of [[optics]] and suggested that light consisted of tiny corpuscles (particles).  

As [[scientific method]]ology became further developed, the Aristotelian view came under scrutiny. Europe became the leading centre of scientific research by the 16th century. Force and motion had become topics of interest among scientists of the day.  [[Galileo Galilei]] performed a series of experiments involving rolling balls down inclined planes, and [[Johannes Kepler]] found [[Kepler's laws of planetary motion|mathematical relations]] governing the motion of the [[planets]].  [[Isaac Newton]] was able to explain the results of Galileo and Kepler through the use of three succinct [[Newton's Laws of Motion|laws of motion]] and an expression that accounted for [[gravity|gravitational]] force.  Newton also made important contributions to the field of [[optics]] and suggested that light consisted of tiny corpuscles (particles).

===Further Development of Classical Physics===

===Further Development of Classical Physics===

By the close of the 19th century, the study of physics was widely thought to be essentially complete, with the exception of only a few "loose ends"—minor unsolved problems to be dealt with. As a solution to the so-called ultraviolet catastrophe problem, which involved light emission from [[black body|hot, dark objects]], Max Planck proposed in 1900 that the sources of light could be represented by small individual oscillators.  Planck referred to the individual oscillators as ''quanta''.  In 1905, [[Albert Einstein]] published a heuristic explanation for the [[photoelectric effect]] problem:  light could be thought of as being composed of very small, discrete packets (quanta), as opposed to the classical representation of light as a collection of waves. By the end of the 1930s, [[quantum mechanics]]—the name given to the new theory that applied to matter and energy on atomic scales—was well-established.  Other physicists began applying the theory to more specific aspects of physics, resulting in quantum mechanical descriptions of electricity and magnetism, the [[weak force|weak]] and [[strong force|strong]] atomic forces, condensed matter physics, and many other areas.  

By the close of the 19th century, the study of physics was widely thought to be essentially complete, with the exception of only a few "loose ends"—minor unsolved problems to be dealt with. As a solution to the so-called ultraviolet catastrophe problem, which involved light emission from [[black body|hot, dark objects]], Max Planck proposed in 1900 that the sources of light could be represented by small individual oscillators.  Planck referred to the individual oscillators as ''quanta''.  In 1905, [[Albert Einstein]] published a heuristic explanation for the [[photoelectric effect]] problem:  light could be thought of as being composed of very small, discrete packets (quanta), as opposed to the classical representation of light as a collection of waves. By the end of the 1930s, [[quantum mechanics]]—the name given to the new theory that applied to matter and energy on atomic scales—was well-established.  Other physicists began applying the theory to more specific aspects of physics, resulting in quantum mechanical descriptions of electricity and magnetism, the [[weak force|weak]] and [[strong force|strong]] atomic forces, condensed matter physics, and many other areas.  

Also in the early 1900s, [[Poincare]] published his discovery of what became known as the [[special relativity]], which gave new insights on the relation between [[space]] and [[time]].  Others later extended the concept to non-inertial [[Inertial frame of reference|reference frames]], which resulted in the [[general relativity|general theory of relativity]], an improved description of [[gravity|gravitational]] interactions.

Also in the early 1900s, [[Henri Poincaré]] published his discovery of what became known as the [[special relativity]], which gave new insights on the relation between [[space]] and [[time]].  Others later extended the concept to non-inertial [[Inertial frame of reference|reference frames]], which resulted in the [[general relativity|general theory of relativity]], an improved description of [[gravity|gravitational]] interactions.

=== Contemporary Physics ===

=== Contemporary Physics ===