Fundamentals of Physics

Play an AI-generated podcast conversation about this lesson

What is the main goal of physics?

To study the behavior of matter in space

To investigate the fundamental constituents of matter

To analyze the relationship between energy and force

To understand how the universe behaves (correct)

Who is a scientist specializing in the field of physics called?

Astronomer

Physician

Biologist

Physicist (correct)

What are the fundamental constituents of matter known as in physics?

Neutrons

Protons

Quarks (correct)

Electrons

During which century did natural sciences like physics, chemistry, and biology emerge as unique research endeavors?

17th century Signup and view all the answers

Which academic discipline does physics often intersect with?

Biophysics Signup and view all the answers

What do advances in physics often enable?

New technologies Signup and view all the answers

What is the origin of the word 'physics'?

Latin physica ('study of nature') Signup and view all the answers

Which ancient civilizations had a predictive knowledge and basic awareness of the motions of the Sun, Moon, and stars?

Sumerians, ancient Egyptians, and the Indus Valley Civilisation Signup and view all the answers

Who proposed ideas verified by reason and observation during the Archaic period (650 BCE – 480 BCE)?

Pre-Socratic philosophers Signup and view all the answers

Where did the origins of Western astronomy originate?

Mesopotamia Signup and view all the answers

Which empire resisted the attacks from the barbarians and continued to advance various fields of learning, including physics?

Eastern Roman Empire (Byzantine Empire) Signup and view all the answers

Who created an important compilation of Archimedes' works in the sixth century?

Isidore of Miletus Signup and view all the answers

In which period did pre-Socratic philosophers like Thales reject non-naturalistic explanations for natural phenomena?

Archaic period (650 BCE – 480 BCE) Signup and view all the answers

What is one of the oldest natural sciences?

Astronomy Signup and view all the answers

What led directly to the development of new products that have dramatically transformed modern-day society?

Advances in electromagnetism, solid-state physics, and nuclear physics Signup and view all the answers

What was often worshipped by early civilizations such as the Sumerians, ancient Egyptians, and the Indus Valley Civilisation?

Stars and planets Signup and view all the answers

What is the main focus of social science?

Understanding societies and relationships among individuals Signup and view all the answers

Which academic disciplines are encompassed by social science?

Anthropology, archaeology, and economics Signup and view all the answers

How do positivist social scientists define science?

In its stricter modern sense, using methods resembling those in the natural sciences Signup and view all the answers

What characterizes the methods used by interpretivist social scientists?

Social critique or symbolic interpretation Signup and view all the answers

How do modern researchers in social science often conduct their studies?

Being eclectic, using multiple methodologies including both quantitative and qualitative research Signup and view all the answers

What degree of autonomy has social research acquired?

It shares common goals and methods among practitioners from various disciplines Signup and view all the answers

In which century did the history of the social sciences begin?

17th century Signup and view all the answers

Who coined the term 'social science' in French in 1767?

Auguste Comte Signup and view all the answers

Which philosopher used the term 'science sociale' to describe the field of social science?

Auguste Comte Signup and view all the answers

Who initiated the study of 'social facts'?

Émile Durkheim Signup and view all the answers

Which figure championed the methodological dichotomy present in identifying and understanding social phenomena?

Max Weber Signup and view all the answers

Which route of development in the social sciences was based on economics?

Development of economic knowledge Signup and view all the answers

Whose sociology firmly demanded a distinction between theory (description) and prescription?