Physics

What Is Physics?

“What we call physics comprises that group of natural sciences which base their concepts on measurements, and whose concepts and propositions lend themselves to mathematical formulations,” wrote Einstein in a 1940 Science article. Physicists study everything from elementary particles, the very smallest bits of matter, to galactic superclusters, the largest structures in the universe in order to come up with the simplest rules, or theories, possible to describe the widest range of phenomena. These rules are written in the language of mathematics and are continually tested in experiments spanning many different scales. The goal of physics is to describe the structure, composition, and interactions of everything in the universe using the simplest possible set of rules.

Physics itself is the most fundamental of the sciences. It provides the basis for many other areas of study, including astronomy, engineering, materials science, chemistry, and even certain areas of biology. Moreover, many technological innovations stem from physics research. These include, but are certainly not limited to, lasers, computers, digital electronics, medical imaging devices (e.g. x-rays and MRIs), and solar panels.

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