Physics is one of the oldest academic disciplines and, through its inclusion of astronomy, perhaps the oldest.Over much of the past two millennia, physics, chemistry, biology, and certain branches of mathematicswere a part of natural philosophy, but during the Scientific Revolution in the 17th century these natural sciences emerged as unique research endeavors in their own right.Physics intersects with many interdisciplinaryareas of research, such as biophysics and quantum chemistry, and the boundaries of physics are not rigidly defined. New ideas in physics often explain the fundamental mechanisms studied by other sciences and suggest new avenues of research in academic disciplines such as mathematics and philosophy.
Advances in physics often enable advances in new technologies. For example, advances in the understanding of electromagnetism, solid-state physics, and nuclear physics led directly to the development of new products that have dramatically transformed modern-day society, such as television, computers, domestic appliances, and nuclear weapons;advances in thermodynamics led to the development of industrialization; and advances in mechanicsinspired the development of calculus.
Why is physics important?
Physics explains how the world around us works. Many of our modern technologies are based off of scientific discoveries made in the science of physics. Engineers use physics to help design airplanes, cars, buildings, and electronics such as computers and cell phones.
Important Discoveries in Physics
- Nicholas Copernicus - discovered that the Earth rotates around the Sun.
- Galileo - demonstrated that heavy objects do not fall faster than lighter ones in his famous Leaning Tower of Pisa experiment.
- Isaac Newton - published the three laws of motion and explained how gravity works.
- John Dalton - described the atom and the atomic theory of matter.
- Albert Einstein - published the theory of relativity.
- Max Planck - described quantum theory.
