Physics is a scientific discipline belonging to the so-called natural or "pure" sciences, with origins dating back to classical times. Along with chemistry and biology, it has profoundly changed how humans understand and process the world around us. There are different branches of physics that can be studied alongside this science.
In this article we are going to tell you about the different branches of physics, their characteristics and what they study.
Physics and chemistry
Chemistry studies the composition of matter and living things, while biology and physics are dedicated to the scientific study and description of the fundamental forces that govern the universe . Based on the study of these forces and the points of contact between this study and other scientific and disciplinary areas, physics is divided into many branches or fields, each with its own name and objectives. For example, you can learn more about atomic models , which are essential for understanding matter.
However, since physics is one of the oldest sciences, and since other disciplines that exist today did not always exist, it is common to distinguish three great moments, or three great perspectives, that the study of physics contains.
Branches of physics
- classical physics. Its background comes from classical antiquity, especially ancient Greece, and focuses on phenomena in the universe where the speed is less than the speed of light and the spatial scale is greater than that of atoms and molecules. Its principles are based on classical mechanics or Newtonian mechanics, since Isaac Newton (1642-1727) was one of the great thinkers. This approach is closely related to the geology in the sense of understanding the movements of matter on Earth.
- Modern physics. Its origins date back to the late 1858th and early 1947th centuries, and thanks to the research of Max Planck (1879-1955) and Albert Einstein (XNUMX-XNUMX), the different concepts of classical physics were profoundly modified: special relativity . and general relativity.
- Contemporary physics. The most innovative branches, whose starting points are located in the late 20th and early 21st centuries, are dedicated to the functional description of nonlinear systems, processes outside of thermodynamic equilibrium, and often the most avant-garde and complex trends surrounding the unobservable universe. This can often lead to studies on climate change.
Variants of the branches of physics
During these three moments, physics has been accumulating fields of study, each of which initiates or encompasses one of the so-called branches of physics:
- Classic mechanics. It focuses on the concept of moving at speeds below the speed of light and the macroscopic behavior of objects, and is characterized by treating time as an immutable concept and the universe as a defined entity. In general, it is composed of vector mechanics, the results of Isaac Newton's research and his laws of motion, and analytical mechanics of an abstract and mathematical nature, whose initiator is considered Gottfried Leibniz (1646–1716). geomorphology It also has to do with understanding movements and changes on the Earth's surface.
- Thermodynamics. Dedicated to the study of the energy balance of macroscopic systems, their heat and energy transfer processes, the form of energy and how it is used to perform work.
- Electromagnetism. It is the branch of physics that studies electricity and magnetism and does so in a unified manner, that is, using a single theory. This meant that it was interested in the phenomena of electric and magnetic fields and their correspondence and interaction, taking light into account. Its origins date back to the studies of Michel Faraday (1791-1867) and James Clerk Maxwell (1831-1879). For more information, you can consult the topic of spectroscopy.
- Acoustics. This is the name of the physics of sound, dedicated to the study of the properties and propagation of sound waves, their behavior in different media and their possibility of manipulation. Its applications are fundamental in the world of musical instruments, but they go further in our daily life.
- Optics. It is the physics of light, dedicated to understanding the complex nature of the visible (and invisible) electromagnetic spectrum and the ways in which it interacts with matter: different media, reflective materials, and prisms. This discipline arose in antiquity but has been revolutionized in modern times, allowing the creation of devices that humans had never suspected before, such as microscopes, cameras and corrective (medical) optics.
- Fluid mechanics. It focuses on the study of the movement of fluids and their interaction with their environment. This means that it mainly studies liquids and gases, but also other complex forms of matter that can flow, that is, become continua.
- Quantum mechanics. It is dedicated to the study of nature at very small spatial scales, such as atoms and subatomic particles. It analyzes their dynamics and interactions and is the result of the advances in physics of the early 20th century that started from the assumptions of classical mechanics and opened a new field of study: the subatomic world and its possible manipulation. You can also find more information about what is quantum physics to understand its principles.
- Chaos theory. It focuses on the study of complex and dynamic physical systems, using Newton's differential equations and the contributions of physicists such as Lenz (1917-2008), etc.
other branches
In addition, due to the interaction with other sciences and disciplines, some branches of physics have been born:
- Geophysics. It is the result of the contact between physics and geology, dedicated to the study of the internal layers of our planet: its structure, dynamics and evolutionary history, taking into account the known fundamental laws of matter: gravity, electromagnetism, radiation, etc. This connection is essential to understand the behavior of our planet in the field of hydrogeology.
- Astrophysics. Stellar physics is applied to the study of visible or detectable objects in outer space, such as stars, nebulae, or black holes. This discipline goes hand in hand with astronomy and provides a wealth of information about how extraplanetary space works and what conclusions can be drawn from its observations. For more information, you can explore astronomical observatories.
- Physical chemistry. It is the intersection of the science of forces (physics) and the science of matter (chemistry). It includes the study of matter using physical concepts.
- Biophysics. Dedicated to the study of living beings from the perspective of physics, especially at the level of molecular dynamics, that is, the exchange and interaction of subatomic particles and energy between and within living beings.
I hope that with this information you can learn more about the branches of physics and their characteristics.