Assingment

1. Define physics [fzziks]

noun

study of physical forces and qualities: the scientific study of matter, energy, force, and motion, and the way they relate to each other. Physics traditionally incorporates mechanics, electromagnetism, optics, and thermodynamics and now includes modern disciplines such as quantum mechanics, relativity, and nuclear physics. (takes a singular verb)

science (plural sciences)

noun

1. study of physical world: the study of the physical and natural world and phenomena, especially by using systematic observation and experiment (often used before a noun) 2. branch of science: a particular area of study or knowledge of the physical world the life sciences 3. systematic body of knowledge: a systematically organized body of knowledge about a particular subject the behavioral sciences 4. something studied or performed methodically: an activity that is the object of careful study or that is carried out according to a developed method the science of dressing for success 5. knowledge gained from science: the knowledge gained by the study of the physical world

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[14th century. Via French < Latin scientia < scient-, present participle of scire "know, discern" < IndoEuropean, "cut"] blind somebody with science to confuse or overwhelm somebody by giving an impenetrable explanation using technical terms and concepts. technology [tek nlljee] (plural technologies)

noun

1. application of tools and methods: the study, development, and application of devices, machines, and techniques for manufacturing and productive processes recent developments in seismographic technology 2. method of applying technical knowledge: a method or methodology that applies technical knowledge or tools a new technology for accelerating incubation

"...Maryland-based firm uses database and Internet technology to track a company's consumption of printed goods..." (Forbes Global Business and Finance November 1998)
3. machines and systems: machines, equipment, and systems considered as a unit the latest laser technology 4. CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY sum of practical knowledge: the sum of a society's or culture's practical knowledge, especially with reference to its material culture

[Early 17th century. < Greek tekhnologia "systematic treatment" < tekhn "art, skill"] -technologic [tkn ljjik], adjective -technological [tkn ljjik'l], adjective -technologically [tkn ljjiklee], adverb -technologist [tek nlljist], noun

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2. Enumerate & define the 2 main branches of physics

a. classical physics
What "classical physics" refers to depends on the context. When discussing special relativity, it refers to the Newtonian physics which preceded relativity, i.e. the branches of physics based on principles developed before the rise of relativity and quantum mechanics. When discussing general relativity, it refers to the result of modifying Newtonian physics to incorporate special relativity. When discussing quantum mechanics, it refers to non-quantum physics, including special relativity, and general relativity.. b. Modern Physics The term modern physics refers to the post-Newtonian conception of physics. The term implies that classical descriptions of phenomena are lacking, and that an accurate, "modern", description of reality requires theories to incorporate elements of quantum mechanics or Einsteinian relativity, or both. In general, the term is used to refer to any branch of physics either developed in the early 20th century and onwards, or branches greatly influenced by early 20th century physics. Modern physics often involves extreme conditions; quantum effects usually involve distances comparable 9 to atoms (roughly 10 m), while relativistic effects usually involve velocities comparable to the speed of 8 light (roughly 10 m/s). Small velocities and large distances is usually the realm of classical mechanics.
Classical physics take up the general physical science where the newton's forces, laws of motions apply.. While at modern physics, we talk about quantized light particles at quantum

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and E=mc2 in nuclear. Modern physics is very mathematical and probability density functions are often used to determine the probability of this and that. i.e. an electron tunneling through a barrier.

3. Give the domains of the 2 branches of physics

Classical Newtonian physics has, formally, been replaced by quantum mechanics on the small scale and relativity on the large scale. Because most humans continue to think in terms of the kind of events we perceive in the human scale of daily life, it became necessary to provide a new philosophical interpretation of classical physics. Classical mechanics worked extremely well within its domain of observation but made inaccurate predictions at very small scale - atomic scale systems - and when objects moved very fast or were very massive. Viewed through the lens of quantum mechanics or relativity, we can now see that classical physics, imported from the world of our everyday experience, includes notions for which there is no actual evidence. For example, one commonly held idea is that there exists one absolute time shared by all observers. Another is the idea that electrons are discrete entities like miniature [1] planets that circle the nucleus in definite orbits. . What "classical physics" refers to depends on the context. When discussing special relativity, it refers to the Newtonian physics which preceded relativity, i.e. the branches of physics based on principles developed before the rise of relativity and quantum mechanics. When discussing general relativity, it refers to the result of modifying Newtonian physics to incorporate special relativity. When discussing quantum mechanics, it refers to non-quantum physics, including special relativity, and general relativity.

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Modern physics is often encountered when dealing with extreme conditions. Quantum mechanical effects tend to appear when dealing with "lows" (low temperatures, small distances), while relativistic effects tend to appear when dealing with "highs" (high velocities, large distances), the "middles" being classical behaviour. For example, when analysing the behaviour of a gas at room temperature, most phenomena will involve the (classical)MaxwellBoltzmann distribution. However near absolute zero, the MaxwellBoltzmann distribution fails to account for the observed behaviour of the gas, and the (modern) FermiDirac or BoseEinstein distributions have to be used instead. Very often, it is possible to find or "retrieve" the classical behaviour from the modern description by analysing the modern description at low speeds and large distances (by taking a limit, or by making an approximation). When doing so, the result is called the classical limit.
4. Give at least 10 outstanding physicist 1. 2. Archimedes (great physicist, engineer, and mathematician), who laid the foundations of statics and hydrostatics. Isaac Newton (great physicist and mathematician), who laid the foundations of dynamics and hydrodynamics, and the theory of gravitation. Michael Faraday (arguably the greatest experimentalist of all time), who laid down the foundations (together with James Clerk Maxwell) of the physics of electromagnetism, the cornerstone of modern civilization. James Clerk Maxwell, who by formulating the electromagnetic theory not only made a unification of two formally disparate fields, but introduced the notion of the physical field, probably the most important concept of modern physics.

3.

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5.

Albert Einstein (arguably the greatest theoretical physicist of all time), who has revised at the most fundamental level Newton's concepts of space and time, his dynamics and theory of gravity. 6. Galileo Galilei (great physicist and astronomer), who laid the foundations of modern science, by introducing both mathematical and experimental methods into science and thus separated it definitely from scholasticism and metaphysics. 7. Ludwig Boltzmann (great theoretician and epistemologist), who has laid down foundations of thermodynamics, with Maxwell's electromagnetic theory, considered the crown of 19-century physics. 8. Ernest Rutherford, who has, by elucidating the structure of atomic systems, opened the door of the microworld, previously inaccessible to our experience. 9. Erwin Schroedinger (great theoretician and polymath), who has formulated his equation, with Newton's one the most important in the history of science and contributed decisively to the overall development of quantum mechanics, arguably the greatest theoretical achievement of science in general. 10. Paul Dirac (great theoretician), who laid down the foundations of relativistic quantum mechanics and quantum field theory, the latter being, as such, the most advanced achievement of physics of our time.

In 5 sentences only, explain why physics is considered te basic science.

Because physics is the most fundamental science. Physics is the study of energy and motion. All other sciences would not exist without a form of energy or motion. Physics can be considered to derive from mathematics and is the study of both matter and energy. It's considered to be THE basic science, because all other sciences can be shown to be derived from it.