Physics (from Ancient Greek: physis "nature") is a natural science that involves the study of matter and its

s motion through space, time, as well as all related concepts, including energy and force. More broadly, it is the general analysis of nature, conducted in order to understand how the universe behaves. Physics is one of the oldest academic disciplines, perhaps the oldest through its inclusion of astronomy. Over the last two millennia, physics was a part of natural philosophy along with chemistry, certain branches of mathematics, and biology, but during the Scientific Revolution in the 16th century, the natural sciences emerged as unique research programs in their own right. Certain research areas are interdisciplinary, such as biophysics and quantum chemistry, which means that the boundaries of physics are not rigidly defined. In the nineteenth and twentieth centuries physicals emerged as a major unifying feature of the philosophy of science as physics provides fundamental explanations for every observed natural phenomenon. New ideas in physics often explain the fundamental mechanisms of other sciences, while opening to new research areas in mathematics and philosophy. Physics is also significant and influential through advances in its understanding that have translated into new technologies. 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, such as television, computers, domestic appliances, and nuclear weapons; advances in thermodynamics led to the development of industrialization; and advances in mechanics inspired the development of calculus. History of Physics Since antiquity, people have tried to understand the behavior of the natural world. One great mystery was the predictable behavior of celestial objects such as the Sun and the Moon. Several theories were proposed, the majority of which were disproved. The philosopher Thales (ca. 624546 BC) first refused to accept various supernatural, religious or mythological explanations for natural phenomena, proclaiming that every event had a natural cause. Early physical theories were largely couched in philosophical terms, and never verified by systematic

experimental testing as is popular today. Many of the commonly accepted works of Ptolemy and Aristotle are not always found to match everyday observations. Even so, many ancient philosophers and astronomers gave correct descriptions in atomism and astronomy. Leucippus (first half of 5th century BC) first proposed atomism, while Archimedes derived many correct quantitative descriptions of mechanics, statics and hydrostatics, including an explanation for the principle of the lever. The Middle Ages saw the emergence of an experimental physics taking shape among medieval Muslim physicists, the most famous being Alhazen, followed by modern physics largely taking shape among early modern European physicists, the most famous being Sir Isaac Newton, who built on the works of Galileo Galilei and Johannes Kepler. In the 20th century, the work of Albert Einstein marked a new direction in physics that continues to the present day. Famous Physicists: William Gilbert- hypothesized that the Earth is a giant magnet Galileo Galilei- performed fundamental observations, experiments, and mathematical analyses in astronomy and physics; discovered mountains and craters on the moon, the phases of Venus, and the four largest satellites of Jupiter: Io, Europa, Callisto, and Ganymede Willebrod Snell- discovered law of refraction (Snell's law) Christiaan Huygens- proposed a simple geometrical wave theory of light, now known as ``Huygen's principle''; pioneered use of the pendulum in clocks Sir Isaac Newton- developed theories of gravitation and mechanics, and invented differential calculus Robert Hooke- discovered Hooke's law of elasticity Benjamin Franklin- the first American physicist; characterized two kinds of electric charge, which he named ``positive'' and ``negative'' Charles Augustin de Coulomb- experiments on elasticity, electricity, and magnetism; established experimentally nature of the force between two charges Henry Cavendish- discovered and studied hydrogen; first to measure Newton's gravitational constant; calculated mass and mean density of Earth Count Alessandro Volta- pioneer in study of electricity; invented the first electric battery Jean-Babtiste Biot- studied polarization of light; co-discovered that intensity of magnetic field set up by a current flowing through a wire varies inversely with the distance from the wire Andr Marie Ampre- father of electrodynamics Hans Christian Oersted- discovered that a current in a wire can produce magnetic effects

Georg Ohm- discovered that current flow is proportional to potential difference and inversely proportional to resistance (Ohm's law) Michael Faraday- discovered electromagnetic induction and devised first electrical transformer Felix Savart- co-discovered that intensity of magnetic field set up by a current flowing through a wire varies inversely with the distance from the wire James Prescott Joule- discovered mechanical equivalent of heat Christian Doppler- experimented with sound waves; derived an expression for the apparent change in wavelength of a wave due to relative motion between the source and observer Joseph Henry- performed extensive fundamental studies of electromagnetic phenomena; devised first practical electric motor Jean-Bernard-Lon Foucault- accurately measured speed of light; invented the gyroscope; demonstrated the Earth's rotation Nikola Tesla- created alternating current Johannes van der Waals- worked on equations of state for gases and liquids Antoine Henri Becquerel- discovered natural radioactivity Pierre Curie- studied radioactivity with wife, Marie Curie; discovered piezoelectricity Marie Curie- discovered radioactivity of thorium; co-discovered radium and polonium Albert Einstein- explained Brownian motion and photoelectric effect; contributed to theory of atomic spectra; formulated theories of special and general relativity Niels Bohr- contributed to quantum theory and to theory of nuclear reactions and nuclear fission Sir James Chadwick- discovered the neutron Dennis Gabor- invented and developed the holographic method whereby it is possible to record and display a three-dimensional display of an object Cecil F. Powell- developed the photographic emulsion method of studying nuclear processes; discovered the charged pion