Outline of physics

The following outline is provided as an

overview of and topical guide to physics:

Physics – natural science that involves

the study of matter[1] and its motion
through spacetime, along with related
concepts such as energy and force.[2]
More broadly, it is the general analysis of
nature, conducted in order to understand
how the universe behaves.[3][4][5]

What type of subject is

What type of subject is
physics?
Physics can be described as all of the
following:

An academic discipline – one with

academic departments, curricula and
degrees; national and international
societies; and specialized journals.
A scientific field (a branch of science)
– widely recognized category of
specialized expertise within science,
and typically embodies its own
terminology and nomenclature. Such a
field will usually be represented by one
or more scientific journals, where peer-
reviewed research is published.
 A natural science – one that seeks
to elucidate the rules that govern
the natural world using empirical
and scientific method.
A physical science – one that
studies non-living systems.
A biological science – one
that studies the role of
physical processes in living
organisms. See Outline of
biophysics.

Branches of physics
Acoustics – study of mechanical
waves in solids, liquids, and gases
(such as vibration and sound)
Agrophysics – study of physics
applied to agroecosystems
Soil physics – study of soil
physical properties and
processes.
Astrophysics – study of the physical
aspects of celestial objects
Astronomy – studies the universe
beyond Earth, including its formation
and development, and the evolution,
physics, chemistry, meteorology, and
motion of celestial objects (such as
galaxies, planets, etc.) and phenomena
that originate outside the atmosphere
of Earth (such as the cosmic
background radiation).
Astrodynamics – application of
ballistics and celestial mechanics
to the practical problems
concerning the motion of rockets
and other spacecraft.
Astrometry – branch of astronomy
that involves precise
measurements of the positions
and movements of stars and other
celestial bodies.
Extragalactic astronomy – branch
of astronomy concerned with
objects outside our own Milky
Way Galaxy
Galactic astronomy – study of our
own Milky Way galaxy and all its
contents.
Physical cosmology – study of the
largest-scale structures and
dynamics of the universe and is
concerned with fundamental
questions about its formation and
evolution.
Planetary science – scientific
study of planets (including Earth),
moons, and planetary systems, in
particular those of the Solar
System and the processes that
form them.
Stellar astronomy – natural
science that deals with the study
of celestial objects (such as stars,
 planets, comets, nebulae, star
clusters and galaxies) and
phenomena that originate outside
the atmosphere of Earth (such as
cosmic background radiation)
Atmospheric physics – study of the
application of physics to the
atmosphere
Atomic, molecular, and optical physics
– study of how matter and light
interact
Biophysics – interdisciplinary science
that uses the methods of physics to
study biological systems
Medical physics – application of
physics concepts, theories and
 methods to medicine.
Neurophysics – branch of
biophysics dealing with the
nervous system.
Chemical physics – branch of physics
that studies chemical processes from
the point of view of physics.
Classical physics - physics that
predates the advent of quantum
mechanics.
Computational physics – study and
implementation of numerical
algorithms to solve problems in
physics for which a quantitative theory
already exists.
Condensed matter physics – study of
the physical properties of condensed
phases of matter.
Cryogenics – cryogenics is the study
of the production of very low
temperature (below −150 °C, −238 °F
or 123K) and the behavior of materials
at those temperatures.
Dynamics – study of the causes of
motion and changes in motion
Thermodynamics - the study of
the relationships between heat
and mechanical energy
Econophysics – interdisciplinary
research field, applying theories and
methods originally developed by
physicists in order to solve problems in
economics
Electromagnetism – branch of science
concerned with the forces that occur
between electrically charged particles.
Geophysics – the physics of the Earth
and its environment in space; also the
study of the Earth using quantitative
physical methods
Homeokinetics - the physics of
complex, self-organizing systems
Materials physics – use of physics to
describe materials in many different
ways such as force, heat, light and
mechanics.
Mathematical physics – application of
mathematics to problems in physics
and the development of mathematical
methods for such applications and for
the formulation of physical theories.
Mechanics – branch of physics
concerned with the behavior of
physical bodies when subjected to
forces or displacements, and the
subsequent effects of the bodies on
their environment.
Aerodynamics – study of the
motion of air.
Biomechanics – study of the
structure and function of
biological systems such as
humans, animals, plants, organs,
and cells by means of the
methods of mechanics.
Classical mechanics – one of the
two major sub-fields of
mechanics, which is concerned
with the set of physical laws
describing the motion of bodies
under the action of a system of
forces.
Kinematics – branch of
classical mechanics that
describes the motion of
points, bodies (objects) and
systems of bodies (groups of
objects) without
 consideration of the causes
of motion.[6][7][8]
Continuum mechanics – branch of
mechanics that deals with the
analysis of the kinematics and the
mechanical behavior of materials
modeled as a continuous mass
rather than as discrete particles.
Fluid mechanics – study of fluids
and the forces on them.
Fluid statics – study of fluids
at rest
Fluid kinematics – study of
fluids in motion
Fluid dynamics – study of the
effect of forces on fluid
 motion
Quantum mechanics – branch of
physics which describes tiny
discrete quantities of matter and
energy, where action is on the
order of Planck's constant.
Thermodynamics – branch of
physical science concerned with
heat and its relation to other
forms of energy and work.
Nuclear physics – field of physics that
studies the building blocks and
interactions of atomic nuclei.
Optics – branch of physics which
involves the behavior and properties of
light, including its interactions with
matter and the construction of
instruments that use or detect it.
Particle physics – branch of physics
that studies the properties and
interactions of the fundamental
constituents of matter and energy.
Psychophysics – quantitatively
investigates the relationship between
physical stimuli and the sensations
and perceptions they affect.
Plasma physics – the study of plasma,
a state of matter similar to gas in
which a certain portion of the particles
are ionized.
Polymer physics – field of physics that
studies polymers, their fluctuations,
mechanical properties, as well as the
kinetics of reactions involving
degradation and polymerisation of
polymers and monomers respectively.
Quantum physics – branch of physics
dealing with physical phenomena
where the action is on the order of the
Planck constant.
Relativity – theory of physics which
describes the relationship between
space and time.
Statics – branch of mechanics
concerned with the analysis of loads
(force, torque/moment) on physical
systems in static equilibrium, that is, in
a state where the relative positions of
subsystems do not vary over time, or
where components and structures are
at a constant velocity.
Solid state physics – study of rigid
matter, or solids, through methods
such as quantum mechanics,
crystallography, electromagnetism, and
metallurgy.
Theoretical physics – the pursuit of
describing physical phenomena with
rigorous mathematical models and
physical abstractions in order to
analyze, explain, and predict natural
processes.
Vehicle dynamics – dynamics of
vehicles, here assumed to be ground
 vehicles.

History of physics
History of physics – history of the
physical science that studies matter and
its motion through space-time, and
related concepts such as energy and
force

History of acoustics – history of the

study of mechanical waves in solids,
liquids, and gases (such as vibration
and sound)
History of agrophysics – history of the
study of physics applied to
agroecosystems
 History of soil physics – history of
the study of soil physical
properties and processes.
History of astrophysics – history of the
study of the physical aspects of
celestial objects
History of astronomy – history of the
studies the universe beyond Earth,
including its formation and
development, and the evolution,
physics, chemistry, meteorology, and
motion of celestial objects (such as
galaxies, planets, etc.) and phenomena
that originate outside the atmosphere
of Earth (such as the cosmic
background radiation).
History of astrodynamics – history
of the application of ballistics and
celestial mechanics to the
practical problems concerning the
motion of rockets and other
spacecraft.
History of astrometry – history of
the branch of astronomy that
involves precise measurements of
the positions and movements of
stars and other celestial bodies.
History of cosmology – history of
the discipline that deals with the
nature of the Universe as a whole.
History of extragalactic astronomy
– history of the branch of
astronomy concerned with objects
outside our own Milky Way Galaxy
History of galactic astronomy –
history of the study of our own
Milky Way galaxy and all its
contents.
History of physical cosmology –
history of the study of the largest-
scale structures and dynamics of
the universe and is concerned
with fundamental questions about
its formation and evolution.
History of planetary science –
history of the scientific study of
planets (including Earth), moons,
and planetary systems, in
 particular those of the Solar
System and the processes that
form them.
History of stellar astronomy –
history of the natural science that
deals with the study of celestial
objects (such as stars, planets,
comets, nebulae, star clusters and
galaxies) and phenomena that
originate outside the atmosphere
of Earth (such as cosmic
background radiation)
History of atmospheric physics –
history of the study of the application
of physics to the atmosphere
History of atomic, molecular, and
optical physics – history of the study
of how matter and light interact
History of biophysics – history of the
study of physical processes relating to
biology
History of medical physics –
history of the application of
physics concepts, theories and
methods to medicine.
History of neurophysics – history
of the branch of biophysics
dealing with the nervous system.
History of chemical physics – history
of the branch of physics that studies
chemical processes from the point of
view of physics.
History of computational physics –
history of the study and
implementation of numerical
algorithms to solve problems in
physics for which a quantitative theory
already exists.
History of condensed matter physics –
history of the study of the physical
properties of condensed phases of
matter.
History of cryogenics – history of the
cryogenics is the study of the
production of very low temperature
(below −150 °C, −238 °F or 123K) and
the behavior of materials at those
temperatures.
Dynamics – history of the study of the
causes of motion and changes in
motion
History of econophysics – history of
the interdisciplinary research field,
applying theories and methods
originally developed by physicists in
order to solve problems in economics
History of electromagnetism – history
of the branch of science concerned
with the forces that occur between
electrically charged particles.
History of geophysics – history of the
physics of the Earth and its
environment in space; also the study of
the Earth using quantitative physical
methods
History of materials physics – history
of the use of physics to describe
materials in many different ways such
as force, heat, light and mechanics.
History of mathematical physics –
history of the application of
mathematics to problems in physics
and the development of mathematical
methods for such applications and for
the formulation of physical theories.
History of mechanics – history of the
branch of physics concerned with the
behavior of physical bodies when
subjected to forces or displacements,
and the subsequent effects of the
bodies on their environment.
History of biomechanics – history
of the study of the structure and
function of biological systems
such as humans, animals, plants,
organs, and cells by means of the
methods of mechanics.
History of classical mechanics –
history of the one of the two major
sub-fields of mechanics, which is
concerned with the set of physical
laws describing the motion of
bodies under the action of a
system of forces.
History of continuum mechanics –
history of the branch of
mechanics that deals with the
analysis of the kinematics and the
mechanical behavior of materials
modeled as a continuous mass
rather than as discrete particles.
History of fluid mechanics –
history of the study of fluids and
the forces on them.
History of quantum mechanics –
history of the branch of physics
dealing with physical phenomena
where the action is on the order of
the Planck constant.
 History of thermodynamics –
history of the branch of physical
science concerned with heat and
its relation to other forms of
energy and work.
History of nuclear physics – history of
the field of physics that studies the
building blocks and interactions of
atomic nuclei.
History of optics – history of the
branch of physics which involves the
behavior and properties of light,
including its interactions with matter
and the construction of instruments
that use or detect it.
History of particle physics – history of
the branch of physics that studies the
existence and interactions of particles
that are the constituents of what is
usually referred to as matter or
radiation.
History of psychophysics – history of
the quantitative investigations of the
relationship between physical stimuli
and the sensations and perceptions
they affect.
History of plasma physics – history of
the state of matter similar to gas in
which a certain portion of the particles
are ionized.
History of polymer physics – history of
the field of physics that studies
polymers, their fluctuations,
mechanical properties, as well as the
kinetics of reactions involving
degradation and polymerisation of
polymers and monomers respectively.
History of quantum physics – history
of the branch of physics dealing with
physical phenomena where the action
is on the order of the Planck constant.
History of theory of relativity - history
of the special and the general theory of
relativity
History of special relativity -
history of the study of the
 relationship between space and
time in the absence of gravity
History of general relativity -
history of the non-quantum theory
of gravity
History of statics – history of the
branch of mechanics concerned with
the analysis of loads (force,
torque/moment) on physical systems
in static equilibrium, that is, in a state
where the relative positions of
subsystems do not vary over time, or
where components and structures are
at a constant velocity.
History of solid state physics – history
of the study of rigid matter, or solids,
 through methods such as quantum
mechanics, crystallography,
electromagnetism, and metallurgy.
History of vehicle dynamics – history
of the dynamics of vehicles, here
assumed to be ground vehicles.

General concepts of physics

Basic principles of physics

Physics – branch of science that studies

matter[9] and its motion through space
and time, along with related concepts
such as energy and force.[10] Physics is
one of the "fundamental sciences"
because the other natural sciences (like
biology, geology etc.) deal with systems
that seem to obey the laws of physics.
According to physics, the physical laws
of matter, energy and the fundamental
forces of nature govern the interactions
between particles and physical entities
(such as planets, molecules, atoms or
the subatomic particles). Some of the
basic pursuits of physics, which include
some of the most prominent
developments in modern science in the
last millennium, include:

Describing the nature, measuring and

quantifying of bodies and their motion,
dynamics etc.
Newton's laws of motion
Mass, force and weight
 Momentum and conservation of
energy
Gravity, theories of gravity
Energy, work, and their relationship
Motion, position, and energy
Different forms of Energy, their
interconversion and the inevitable
loss of energy in the form of heat
(Thermodynamics)
Energy conservation, conversion,
and transfer.
Energy source the transfer of
energy from one source to work in
another.
Kinetic molecular theory
 Phases of matter and phase
transitions
Temperature and thermometers
Energy and heat
Heat flow: conduction, convection,
and radiation
The three laws of
thermodynamics
The principles of waves and sound
The principles of electricity,
magnetism, and electromagnetism
The principles, sources, and properties
of light
Basic quantities
Acceleration
Electric charge
Energy
Entropy
Force
Length
Mass
Matter
Momentum
Potential energy
Space
Temperature
Time
Velocity
Gravity, light, physical system, physical
observation, physical quantity, physical
state, physical unit, physical theory,
physical experiment

Theoretical concepts Mass–energy

equivalence, particle, physical field,
physical interaction, physical law,
fundamental force, physical constant,
wave

Overview

Physics This is a list of the primary

theories in physics, major subtopics, and
concepts.
Note: the Theory column below
contains links to articles with infoboxes
at the top of their respective pages
which list the major concepts.
 Theory Major subtopics Concepts

Newton's laws of
motion,
Lagrangian
mechanics,
Hamiltonian
Density, dimension, gravity, space, time, motion,
mechanics,
length, position, velocity, acceleration, mass,
Classical kinematics,
momentum, force, energy, angular momentum, torque,
mechanics statics,
conservation law, harmonic oscillator, wave, work,
dynamics, chaos
power
theory,
acoustics, fluid
dynamics,
continuum
mechanics

Electrostatics,
Capacitance, electric charge, electric current, electrical
electrodynamics,
conductivity, electric field, electric permittivity,
electricity,
electrical resistance, electromagnetic field,
Electromagnetism magnetism,
electromagnetic induction, electromagnetic radiation,
Maxwell's
Gaussian surface, magnetic field, magnetic flux,
equations,
magnetic monopole, magnetic permeability
optics

Covariance, Einstein manifold, equivalence principle,

four-momentum, four-vector, general principle of
relativity, geodesic motion, gravity,
gravitoelectromagnetism, inertial frame of reference,
Special relativity,
invariance, length contraction, Lorentzian manifold,
Theory of general relativity,
Lorentz transformation, metric, Minkowski diagram,
relativity Einstein field
Minkowski space, principle of relativity, proper length,
equations
proper time, reference frame, rest energy, rest mass,
relativity of simultaneity, spacetime, special principle
of relativity, speed of light, stress–energy tensor, time
dilation, twin paradox, world line

Thermodynamics Heat engine, Boltzmann's constant, conjugate variables, enthalpy,

and statistical kinetic theory entropy, equation of state, equipartition theorem, first
mechanics law of thermodynamics, free energy, heat, ideal gas
law, internal energy, irreversible process, partition
function, pressure, reversible process, second law of
 thermodynamics, spontaneous process, state
function, statistical ensemble, temperature,
thermodynamic equilibrium, thermodynamic potential,
thermodynamic processes, thermodynamic state,
thermodynamic system, third law of thermodynamics,
viscosity, zeroth law of thermodynamics

Path integral
Adiabatic approximation, correspondence principle,
formulation,
free particle, Hamiltonian, Hilbert space, identical
scattering
particles, matrix mechanics, Planck's constant,
theory,
operators, quanta, quantization, quantum
Quantum Schrödinger
entanglement, quantum harmonic oscillator, quantum
mechanics equation,
number, quantum tunneling, Schrödinger's cat, Dirac
quantum field
equation, spin, wavefunction, wave mechanics, wave–
theory, quantum
particle duality, zero-point energy, Pauli exclusion
statistical
principle, Heisenberg uncertainty principle
mechanics

Concepts by field
 Field Subfields Major theories Concepts

Standard Model, quantum field Fundamental force

Accelerator
theory, quantum (gravitational,
physics, nuclear
chromodynamics, electroweak electromagnetic, weak,
physics, nuclear
theory, effective field theory, strong), elementary
Particle astrophysics,
lattice field theory, lattice particle, spin, antimatter,
physics particle
gauge theory, gauge theory, spontaneous symmetry
astrophysics,
supersymmetry, Grand Unified breaking, brane, string,
particle physics
Theory, superstring theory, M- quantum gravity, theory of
phenomenology
theory everything, vacuum energy

Atomic physics,
molecular
Atomic, physics, atomic Atom, molecule, diffraction,
Quantum optics, quantum
molecular, and molecular electromagnetic radiation,
chemistry, quantum
and optical astrophysics, laser, polarization, spectral
information science
physics chemical line, Casimir effect
physics, optics,
photonics

Solid state
Phases (gas, liquid, solid,
physics, high
Bose–Einstein condensate,
pressure physics,
superconductor,
Condensed low-temperature BCS theory, Bloch wave, Fermi
superfluid), electrical
matter physics, gas, Fermi liquid, many-body
conduction, magnetism,
physics nanoscale and theory
self-organization, spin,
mesoscopic
spontaneous symmetry
physics, polymer
breaking
physics

Astrophysics Cosmology, Big Bang, Lambda-CDM Black hole, cosmic

gravitation model, cosmic inflation, background radiation,
physics, high- general relativity, law of cosmic string, cosmos,
energy universal gravitation dark energy, dark matter,
astrophysics, galaxy, gravity,
planetary gravitational radiation,
astrophysics, gravitational singularity,
plasma physics, planet, Solar System, star,
space physics, supernova, universe
stellar
astrophysics
Famous physicists

Leon M. Lederman

List of physicists

Archimedes – discovered the laws of

flotation and developed Archimedes'
principle.[11]
Ibn al-Haytham – Father of optics and
discovered reflection and refraction.
Galileo Galilei – "Father of modern
physics.".
Isaac Newton – Laid the groundwork
for classical mechanics, made
significant contributions to the field of
optics and co-invented calculus. Often
considered the greatest physicist of all
time.
James Clerk Maxwell - Formulated a
set of equations that united previously
unrelated observations, experiments,
and equations of electricity,
magnetism, and optics into a
consistent theory.
Albert Einstein – Generally considered
greatest scientist of the 20th century.
Developed both the Special and
General theories of relativity and
proved the existence of atoms beyond
doubt.
Niels Bohr – made fundamental
contributions to understanding atomic
structure and quantum mechanics.
Widely considered one of the greatest
physicists of the 20th century.
Robert Oppenheimer – "Father of the
atomic bomb."
Richard Feynman – Expanded the
theory of quantum electrodynamics,
and developed the tool known as
Feynman diagrams.
Stephen Hawking – made fundamental
contributions to black hole physics and
 cosmology. Also authored popular
books on these subjects.

Lists
Index of physics articles

List of common physics notations

List of equations in classical
mechanics
List of important publications in
physics
List of laws in science
List of letters used in mathematics and
science
List of noise topics
List of optical topics
 List of physicists
List of physics journals
List of scientific units named after
people
Index of wave articles
Variables commonly used in physics

See also
Category:Concepts in physics
Category:Physics-related lists
Elementary physics formulae
Glossary of classical physics
List of physics concepts in primary and
secondary education curricula

Notes
1. Richard Feynman begins his Lectures
with the atomic hypothesis, as his most
compact statement of all scientific
knowledge: "If, in some cataclysm, all of
scientific knowledge were to be destroyed,
and only one sentence passed on to the
next generations ..., what statement would
contain the most information in the fewest
words? I believe it is ... that all things are
made up of atoms – little particles that
move around in perpetual motion,
attracting each other when they are a little
distance apart, but repelling upon being
squeezed into one another. ..." R. P.
Feynman; R. B. Leighton; M. Sands (1963).
The Feynman Lectures on Physics. 1. p. I-
2. ISBN 0-201-02116-1.
2. J. C. Maxwell (1878). Matter and
Motion . D. Van Nostrand. p. 9. ISBN 0-
486-66895-9. “Physical science is that
department of knowledge which relates to
the order of nature, or, in other words, to
the regular succession of events.”
3. H.D. Young; R.A. Freedman (2004).
University Physics with Modern Physics
(11th ed.). Addison Wesley. p. 2. “Physics
is an experimental science. Physicists
observe the phenomena of nature and try
to find patterns and principles that relate
these phenomena. These patterns are
called physical theories or, when they are
very well established and of broad use,
physical laws or principles.”
4. S. Holzner (2006). Physics for
Dummies . Wiley. p. 7. ISBN 0-470-61841-
8. “Physics is the study of your world and
the world and universe around you.”
5. Note: The term 'universe' is defined as
everything that physically exists: the
entirety of space and time, all forms of
matter, energy and momentum, and the
physical laws and constants that govern
them. However, the term 'universe' may
also be used in slightly different
contextual senses, denoting concepts
such as the cosmos or the philosophical
world.
6. Edmund Taylor Whittaker (1904). A
Treatise on the Analytical Dynamics of
Particles and Rigid Bodies . Cambridge
University Press. Chapter 1. ISBN 0-521-
35883-3.
7. Joseph Stiles Beggs (1983).
Kinematics . Taylor & Francis. p. 1. ISBN 0-
89116-355-7.
8. Thomas Wallace Wright (1896).
Elements of Mechanics Including
Kinematics, Kinetics and Statics . E and
FN Spon. Chapter 1.
9. At the start of The Feynman Lectures
on Physics, Richard Feynman offers the
atomic hypothesis as the single most
prolific scientific concept: "If, in some
cataclysm, all [] scientific knowledge were
to be destroyed [save] one sentence [...]
what statement would contain the most
information in the fewest words? I believe
it is [...] that all things are made up of
atoms – little particles that move around
in perpetual motion, attracting each other
when they are a little distance apart, but
repelling upon being squeezed into one
another ..." (Feynman, Leighton & Sands
1963, p. I-2)
10. "Physical science is that department
of knowledge which relates to the order of
nature, or, in other words, to the regular
succession of events." (Maxwell 1878,
p. 9)
11. Eminent scientists, Published by
scholastic India pvt. Ltd.

Works cited

Feynman, R.P.; Leighton, R.B.; Sands,

M. (1963). The Feynman Lectures on
Physics. 1. ISBN 0-201-02116-1.
Maxwell, J.C. (1878). Matter and
Motion . D. Van Nostrand. ISBN 0-486-
66895-9.

External links
AIP.org is the website of the American
Institute of Physics
IOP.org is the website of the Institute
of Physics
APS.org is the website of the
American Physical Society
SPS National is the website of the
American Society of Physics Students
CAP.ca is the website of the Canadian
Association of Physicists
EPS.org is the website of the
European Physical Society
Meta Institute for Computational
Physics - Popular Talks
ScienceMathMastery - Compilation of
YouTube Physics Courses
 Physics | Channel | MIT Video
How to become a GOOD Theoretical
Physicist , a website with outline of
theoretical physics by Gerard 't Hooft
The Feynman Lectures on Physics , 3
vols., free online, Caltech & The
Feynman Lectures Website
Resource recommendations - List of
freely available physics books -
Physics Stack Exchange

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