Fundamentals of Physics E-BOOK

The scientific study of energy and matter and the process of
interaction with each other is known as physics. The energy
could be gravity, light, motion, radiation or electricity as matter
of fact it could be anything from the universe. It studies matter
and could be anything from sub-particles (the particles which
make up an atom and the particles which further make those
particles) to galaxy or stars. Physics aims in understanding the
universal behaviour.
Physics can be dated to thousands of years; it is the oldest
academic disciplines. Earlier physics had always been a part of
biology, chemistry, natural philosophy and even in some
branches of mathematics. Since the revolution of the 17th
century, natural sciences came out as a separate research
program. Physics intercedes with many interdisciplinary
researches that are not strictly defined. Physics often gives rise
to many new ideas which at times explain the fundamental
mechanism of sciences other than physics and opening up new
possibilities of study in fields like philosophy and mathematics.
Physics plays a vital role in the offerings through developments
in new technologies that happen because of hypothetical
discoveries. Like, developments while understanding nuclear
physics or electromagnetism showed the way to production of
products like computers, television, nuclear weapons, domestic
products etc. have helped in bringing about a drastic change in
today's society. Progress in mechanics inspired the growth of
calculus whereas progress in thermodynamics helped in the
growth of industrialization.
Physics utilizes the scientific methods to formulate and test
theories which are based on the observations of the world.
Physics aims on using the outcomes of these experiments to
formulate laws of science, which are normally conveyed through
mathematics and then are used in predicting other occurrences.
Some of the main topics in the fundamentals of physics are
Mechanics, Waves, Thermodynamics, Electromagnetism, Optics
and Special Relativity. They are the main constituents of physics
and the subject revolves around them.