Albert Einstein was a pioneer in the field of relativity.
Physics primarily describes the relationship and interactions between energy and matter. The science has developed to explain the fundamental workings and structure of the universe and all matter contained therein.
Classical Versus Modern Physics
Classical physics describes most physics studies prior to the early 20th century. Classical physics typically involved large scale physics concepts, and its branches include thermodynamics, electricity and magnetism, mechanics, light and optics, and sound. Modern physics is more concerned with the microscopic world of particles. Studied from the early part of the 20th century to the present, modern physics includes quantum mechanics, molecular physics, nuclear physics, particle physics, atomic physics, relativity, condensed matter physics, nanophysics and cosmology.
Thermodynamics
Thermodynamics is a branch of classical physics that focuses on heat and energy and the relationship between the two. Thermodynamics is concerned with large scale reactions rather than microscopic ones.
Mechanics
Mechanics, a division of classical physics, explores bodies in motion and the forces that act upon them. The subdivisions of mechanics include the study of motion and the forces related to it, called "dynamics," the study of bodies at rest, called "statics," and the study of bodies in motion without being concerned with the forces causing that motion, known as "kinematics."
Electricity and Magnetism
Electricity and magnetism are studied in classical physics, both in motion and at rest. The subdivisions of this branch include magnetostatics, the study of magnetic poles at rest, electrostatics, or the study of electric charges at rest, and electrodynamics, or the study of electric charges in motion.
Sound
The classical physics branch of sound studies sound vibrations. The study of acoustics involves how sound travels in waves and through specific media.
Optics
The study of optics in classical physics explores the properties of light, from its visible spectrum to ultraviolet and infrared radiation.
Quantum Mechanics
Quantum mechanics, a division of modern physics, investigates properties of matter at the microscopic level. This branch of physics includes atomic physics, molecular physics, nuclear physics, particle physics, condensed matter physics and nanophysics.
Relativity
Also a part of modern physics, relativity studies motion at near-light speeds. Relativity also encompasses gravity and its effects on space-time. Albert Einstein was the primary pioneer in this branch of physics with his theories of General and Special Relativity.
Cosmology
Cosmology, another branch of modern physics, looks into the beginning and structure of the universe. Cosmologists study, among other things: the Big Bang Theory, dark energy and dark matter.
Tags: classical physics, concerned with, 20th century, Albert Einstein, atomic physics
