1-1-physics-definitions-and-applications_summary

This section is about Physics: Definitions and Applications. Learning Objectives: - Describe the definition, aims, and branches of physics - Describe and distinguish classical physics from modern physics and describe the importance of relativity, quantum mechanics, and relativistic quantum mechanics in modern physics - Describe how aspects of physics are used in other sciences (e.g., biology, chemistry, geology, etc.) as well as in everyday technology The section highlights the importance of physics in various aspects of our lives, from the technology we use daily to groundbreaking modern technologies, and how physics helps us understand the nature of the universe. It discusses how physics expands into different branches such as kinematics, dynamics, acoustics, optics, and thermodynamics. The growth and advancement of scientific knowledge led to ever-increasing specialization, with physics retaining the more fundamental aspects. Classical physics, which emerged from the Renaissance to the end of the 19th century, describes the universe accurately under specific conditions such as matter moving at speeds less than about 1 percent of the speed of light, large objects that can be seen with the naked eye, and weak gravitational fields. Modern physics, on the other hand, includes revolutionary theories such as relativity and quantum mechanics, which deal with the very fast and the very small. These theories help explain phenomena outside our everyday experience, which may seem bizarre or unbelievable. Physics is not just for scientists but is also useful in everyday situations and non-scientific professions. Without realizing it, we use physics every day when we understand why certain actions work or why certain objects behave in a certain way. It is the foundation of many important scientific disciplines like chemistry, most branches of engineering, and parts of geology. It even explains chemical processes that power our bodies and has applications in biology and medical therapy.