physics
B1Pronunciation
UK
- /fˈɪzɪks/
US
- /ˈfɪzɪks/
Description
- The study of matter and energy
- how things work
- natural science
- laws of the universe
Physics is not just about hard equations and lab coats. It is the science that helps explain how the world works, from why apples fall from trees to how stars are born and die. You meet it every day when you ride a bike, hear music, or stand on the ground. It looks at motion, forces, energy, and matter. While people often connect it with difficult math, at its heart it is about watching the world closely and asking clear questions about it.
Physics is the natural science that studies matter, its motion, and its behavior through space and time, along with related concepts such as energy and force. It's one of the most fundamental sciences, providing a basis for other scientific disciplines like chemistry, biology, geology, and even astronomy.
Historically, "physics" comes from the Greek word physis, meaning "nature." Early physicists, often called "natural philosophers," wanted to understand the natural world through observation and reason. Today, physics uses math and experiments to build theories that explain how the universe works.
There are many branches of physics: classical mechanics deals with everyday motion; electromagnetism explores electricity and magnetism; thermodynamics focuses on heat and energy transfer; quantum mechanics studies matter at the atomic and subatomic levels; and relativity describes space, time, gravity, and the universe at very large scales.
You'll encounter physics in countless contexts: designing bridges (structural engineering), developing new technologies (electronics, lasers), understanding weather patterns (meteorology), or even creating special effects for movies. It's not just a subject studied in classrooms; it is the world around us, constantly at play. So next time you marvel at a rainbow, wonder about how airplanes fly, or simply feel the ground beneath your feet, remember—you're experiencing physics!
Examples
- 1
University subject
Maya is studying physics at university.
- 2
Homework
I need to finish my physics homework before dinner.
- 3
School subjects
Physics is harder for me than biology.
- 4
Research field
She wants to work in particle physics after she graduates.
- 5
How things work
The documentary explains the physics of flight.
Pattern
the physics of + thing
the science that explains how it works
- 6
Cartoon action
In the cartoon, the cars seem to ignore the laws of physics.
Forms and spellings
1 form open this card.
Main spelling
- physicsnoun