Physics: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 14:53, 21 January 2004

Revision as of 14:54, 21 January 2004

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'''Physics''' (from [[Greek language|Greek]] from φυσικός (''phusikos''): ''natural'', from φύσις (''fysis''): [[Nature]]) is the [[science]] of Nature in the broadest sencesense. [[Physicist]]s study the behaviour and interactions of [[matter]] and [[radiation]]. [[Theory|Theories]] of physics are generally expressed as [[mathematics|mathematical]] relations. Well-established theories are often referred to as ''physical laws'' or [[law of physics|laws of physics]]; however, like all [[scientific method|scientific theories]], they are ultimately provisional.

Physics is very closely related to the other [[natural science]]s, particularly [[chemistry]], the science of [[molecule]]s and the chemical compounds that they form in bulk. Chemistry draws on many fields of physics, particularly [[quantum mechanics]], [[thermodynamics]] and [[electromagnetism]]. However, chemical phenomena are sufficiently varied and complex that chemistry is usually regarded as a separate discipline.