Physics Through the Ages

Physics is the study of matter and its behavior.

Physics is one of the oldest academic disciplines.

Physics intersects with many other disciplines, such as biophysics and quantum chemistry.

The origins of Western astronomy can be found in Mesopotamia.

Egyptian astronomers left monuments showing knowledge of the constellations and the motions of the celestial bodies.

Greek poet Homer wrote of various celestial objects in his Iliad and Odyssey.

Later Greek astronomers provided names for most constellations visible from the Northern Hemisphere.

Natural philosophy has its origins in Greece during the Archaic period.

The Western Roman Empire fell in the fifth century, and this resulted in a decline in intellectual pursuits in the western part of Europe.

By contrast, the Eastern Roman Empire (also known as the Byzantine Empire) continued to flourish and maintain a high level of intellectual pursuits.

Aristotle was a prominent philosopher and scientist who is credited with developing the theory of motion and the scientific method.

His principles of physics were criticized, but he based his views off of evidence.

Aristotle's science was the backbone of the science we learn in schools today.

Aristotle's theories of motion and matter are still taught in physics classes today.

Aristotle devised his own laws of motion, one of which is that heavier objects fall faster.

Classical physics is the body of scientific knowledge that predates the development of quantum mechanics and the theory of relativity.

The main principles of classical physics include the laws of motion, the law of energy conservation, and the law of conservation of mass.

Classical physics is very accurate for objects travelling at low speeds and on everyday scales. However, it is not accurate for very small objects or very high velocities.

In the 20th century, physicists developed new theories to account for these inaccuracies. These theories include quantum mechanics and the theory of relativity.

These newer theories are more accurate than classical physics for very small objects and very high velocities, but they are not as accurate as classical physics for objects on everyday scales.

Classical mechanics was the dominant theory of physics until the early 20th century when it was replaced by quantum mechanics.

Quantum mechanics is a more accurate description of the behavior of small objects and is based on the theory of probabilities.

The theory of relativity is based on the idea that the speed of light is constant, regardless of the motion of the observer.

The Standard Model of particle physics is a comprehensive description of the fundamental particles of the universe.

Philosophical issues surrounding physics, such as the nature of space and time, determinism, and metaphysical outlooks such as empiricism, naturalism and realism, are studied by physicists.