Physics is the study of matter, energy and their interactions. Physicists study celestial bodies larger than our sun, particles exponentially smaller than protons and neutrons, and everything in between. Physics is considered a fundamental science because it looks to explain the world around us.
History
Physics is one of the oldest academics disciplines, beginning with the ancients and their study of astronomy. Greeks such as Aristotle, Ptolemy and Archimedes theorized about the world around them. Sixteenth- and seventeenth-century European scientists such as Galileo Galilei and Issac Newton provided foundations that undergird modern physics.
Major Types
There are four types, or branches, of physics: classical mechanics, quantum mechanics, electromagnetism and thermodynamics.
Specialty Areas
Besides the four branches, there are also many specialty areas of physics. They include nuclear physics, biophysics, astrophysics, medical physics and particle physics.
Careers
Studying physics is much more practical than one might think. With a degree in physics, one can become a professor or researcher or go into scientific writing, engineering, medicine and other areas.
Einstein
Albert Einstein (1879-1955) is one of the most famous physicists of all time, best known for his theories of special and general relativity. In 1921, Einstein won the Nobel Prize in Physics for his work on the photoelectric effect.
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