Portal:Physics

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The Physics Portal

A stylized depiction of a Lithium atom.

Physics (Greek: physis – φύσις meaning "nature") is a natural science that involves the study of matter, and its motion through spacetime, as well as all applicable concepts, such as energy and force. This has led to the discovery and understanding of the laws of principles which govern the physical universe. More broadly, Physics is the general analysis of nature, conducted in order to understand how the world and universe behave. One tool which helps with this general analysis is the study of the elementary constituents of the universe and their interactions.

Physics is one of the oldest academic disciplines, perhaps the oldest through its inclusion of astronomy. Evidence exists that the earliest civilizations dating back to beyond 3000 BCE, such as the Sumerians, Ancient Egyptians, and the Indus Valley Civilization, all had a predictive knowledge and a very basic understanding of the motions of the Sun, Moon, and stars. Although originally part of other physical sciences and mathematics, Physics emerged to become a unique modern science during the Scientific Revolution of the 16th century.

Physics is both significant and influential, in part because advances in its understanding have often translated into new technologies, but also because new ideas in physics often resonate with other sciences, mathematics, and philosophy. For example, advances in the understanding of electromagnetism or nuclear physics led directly to the development of new products which have dramatically transformed modern-day society (e.g., television, computers, domestic appliances, and nuclear weapons); advances in thermodynamics led to the development of motorized transport; and advances in mechanics inspired the development of calculus.

Physics also has philosophical implications. It can be historically traced back to ancient Greek philosophy. From Thales' first attempt to characterize matter, to Democritus' deduction that matter ought to reduce to an invariant state, the Ptolemaic astronomy of a crystalline firmament, and Aristotle's book Physics, different Greek philosophers advanced their own theories of nature. Well into the 18th century, physics was known as "Natural philosophy". By the 19th century physics was realized as a positive science and a distinct discipline separate from philosophy and the other sciences. Physics, as with the rest of science, relies on philosophy of science to give an adequate description of the scientific method.

Selected article

The theme for this month is unsolved problems in physics. Some of these problems are theoretical, meaning that existing theories seem incapable of explaining a certain observed phenomenon or experimental result. Other unsolved problems are the result of an inability to in create an experiment to test a proposed theory, or investigate a phenomenon in greater detail.


Hence, theoretical problems are part of quantum gravity, cosmology, general relativity, high energy physics (particle physics), nuclear physics, and others. Empirical phenomena lacking clear scientific explanation are part of cosmology and astronomy, high energy physics(particle physics), astronomy, astrophysics, condensed matter physics, and biological problems approached with physics. Click on the following link to read about this subject, which is supplied with references, and other types of information for further reading.

Selected picture

This is an artist's concept of the Universe's expansion known as inflation. In this image space is represented at each time by the circular sections. This includes hypothetical, and non-observable portions of the Universe. Note on the left the dramatic expansion (not to scale) occurring in the inflationary epoch. At the center is the accelerated expansion. The scheme is decorated with WMAP images on the left, and with the representation of stars at the appropriate level of development.

Image from WMAP press release, 2006.

Did you know...

Mock mirage of the setting sun
  • ...that Aristotle's ideas of physics held that because an object could not move without an immediate source of energy, arrows created a vacuum behind them that pushed them through the air.
Artist's depiction of the WMAP satellite measuring the Cosmic Microwave Background Radiation to help scientists understand the Big Bang
  • ...that neutron stars are so dense that one neutron star's mass is equal to the mass of 50 earths even if it was just 13 miles across?
  • ...that every year, the Moon moves 3.82 cm away from Earth?
  • ...that if we even travel at the speed of light it would take us 15 billion years to cross the universe (or longer ← as the universe is expanding)?
  • ...that Neptune was discovered by its gravitational pull on Uranus?


Suggest a fact

Physics news


  • June 13, 2010 -A JAXA probe, the Hayabusa, (artist's impression pictured) returns to Earth, completing a seven-year mission to sample the asteroid 25143 Itokawa.
Artist's depiction of the asteroid sampling probe, Hayabusa.
  • May 31, 2010 - Using sound to create light, with small losses and very high precision. (PTB)
More physics news is available from Wikinews and the Current Events portal

September anniversaries

Births

Deaths


Things you can do

Summary

Whether you are an expert or a novice, be bold, improve an article by editing it. Practice in the sandbox if you must. But hurry back to fix that glaring error that has been bothering you.
  • Join WikiProject Physics.
    • Watch the WikiProject Physics for physics-related issues on Wikipedia.
  • Improve Physics Portal
  • Review articles
    • Assign importance and quality to unassessed articles (See Physics quality control)
    • Review an article for techno babble and report confusing sections in articles talk page. (Give enough detail to help the editors.)
  • Advanced Editing
    • Expand a physics stub.
    • Fix a page needing attention: Modern physics, Classical physics, Other physics topics.
    • Create a requested article.
  • Add a requested image.
  • Check out other physics-related WikiProjects: WikiProject Science, WikiProject Fluid dynamics, WikiProject Elements.

Check list for physics novices and experts new to wikipedia

Whether you are an expert or a novice, be bold, improve an article by editing it. Practice in the sandbox if you must. But hurry back to fix that glaring error that has been bothering you.
  • Register with wikipedia for a user name. (See the username policy)
  • Visit the help page
  • Add articles to your watch list.
  • Check your watchlist on regular basis
  • Revert an obvious vandalism edit
  • Edit your user page to tell wikipedia enough about you to help other editors get to know you
  • Review an article and make a useful comment on the talk page
  • Add your name to the WikiProject Physics members list

Activities for physics novices and experts familiar with wikipedia

  • Edit a physics article
  • Add your name to the WikiProject Physics members list
  • Revert Vandalism
  • Add or improve diagrams and figures
  • Assign importance and quality to unassessed articles (See Physics quality control)
  • Review article for techno babble and suggest areas that need improving on talk page (or add clean up tag.)
  • Fix a page needing attention: Modern physics, Classical physics, Other physics topics.

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