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| − | '''Physical science''' is an encompassing term for the branches of [[natural science]], and [[science]] (generally), that study non-living systems, in contrast to the [[biology|biological]] sciences. However, the term "physical" creates an unintended, somewhat arbitrary distinction, since many branches of physical science also study biological phenomena. Note that |
+ | '''Physical science''' is an encompassing term for the branches of [[natural science]], and [[science]] (generally), that study non-living systems, in contrast to the [[biology|biological]] sciences. However, the term "physical" creates an unintended, somewhat arbitrary distinction, since many branches of physical science also study biological phenomena. Note that mathematics is not a physical science. |
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| + | any principles of [[experimentation]] developed in the physical sciences have been adopted and built upon in the science of psychology. |
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| + | Basic physical science topics of interest to psychologists include include: |
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== The branches of physical science: == |
== The branches of physical science: == |
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+ | *'''[[Physics]]''' - the quantitative science dealing with matter and energy |
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| − | * Many of the '''[[earth science]]s''', including: |
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| − | ** '''[[Geology]]''' - the study of the planetary structure of Earth and the physical processes which shape it |
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| − | ** '''[[Hydrology]]''' - the study of the movement and distribution of water across the Earth's surface |
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| − | ** '''[[Meteorology]]''' - the study of weather patterns and other atmospheric phenomena |
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| − | ** '''[[Oceanography]]''' - the study of the ocean as a physical system |
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| − | * '''[[Physics]]''' - the quantitative science dealing with matter and energy |
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== Basic principles of the physical sciences == |
== Basic principles of the physical sciences == |
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The foundations of the physical sciences rests upon key concepts and [[theory#Science|theories]], each of which explains and/or models a particular aspect of the behavior of nature. As in other [[science]]s, these key concepts and theories came to discovery using the [[scientific method]], which must be found using [[scientific evidence]]: |
The foundations of the physical sciences rests upon key concepts and [[theory#Science|theories]], each of which explains and/or models a particular aspect of the behavior of nature. As in other [[science]]s, these key concepts and theories came to discovery using the [[scientific method]], which must be found using [[scientific evidence]]: |
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| − | ===Basic principles of astronomy=== |
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| − | [[Astronomy]] is the [[science]] of [[celestial bodies]] and their interactions in [[space]]. Its studies includes the following: |
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| − | *The life and characteristics of [[stars]] and [[galaxy|galaxies]] |
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| − | *[[Physical cosmology|Origins of the universe]]. Physical science uses the [[Big Bang]] theory as the commonly accepted scientific [[theory]] of the origin of the [[universe]] |
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| − | *A [[heliocentric theory|heliocentric solar system]]. Ancient and primitive cultures saw the earth as the center of the solar system or universe ([[geocentrism]]). In the 16th century, [[Nicolaus Copernicus]] advanced the ideas of [[heliocentrism]], recognizing the sun as the center of the solar system. |
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| − | *The structure of the [[solar system]], [[planets]], [[comets]], [[asteroid]]s, and [[meteors]] |
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| − | *The [[Earth#shape|shape]] and [[Earth#structure|structure]] of [[Earth]] (roughly spherical, see also [[Spherical Earth]]) |
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| − | *[[Earth#Earth in the Solar System|Earth in the Solar System]] |
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| − | *[[Time#Measurement|Time measurement]] |
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| − | *The composition and features of the [[Moon]] |
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| − | *Interactions of the [[Earth#The Moon|Earth and Moon]] |
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| − | ''(Note: Astronomy should not be confused with [[astrology]], which assumes that people's destiny and human affairs in general are correlated to the apparent positions of astronomical objects in the sky -- although the two fields share a common origin, they are quite different; astronomers embrace the [[scientific method]], while astrologers do not.)'' |
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===Basic principles of chemistry=== |
===Basic principles of chemistry=== |
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**Hydrocarbon derivatives |
**Hydrocarbon derivatives |
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**[[Functional group|Organic chemistry functional groups]] |
**[[Functional group|Organic chemistry functional groups]] |
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| − | ===Basic principles of earth science=== |
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| − | [[Earth science]] is the [[science]] of the planet [[Earth (planet)|Earth]], the only known [[life]]-bearing planet. Its studies include the following: |
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| − | *[[Rock (geology)|Rocks]] and [[minerals]] |
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| − | *The [[water cycle]] and the process of [[transpiration]] |
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| − | *[[Freshwater]], [[surface water]], [[groundwater]] |
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| − | *[[Oceanography]] |
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| − | *[[Geology]] |
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| − | **[[Weathering]] and [[erosion]] |
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| − | **[[Rock (geology)|Rocks]] |
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| − | *[[Soil science]] |
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| − | *Earth's [[tectonic]] structure |
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| − | *[[Geomorphology]] and [[geophysics]] |
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| − | **[[Seismology|Seismology: Stress, strain, and earthquakes]] |
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| − | **Characteristics of [[mountains]] and [[volcanoes]] |
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| − | *Characteristics and formation of [[fossils]] |
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| − | *[[Atmospheric sciences|Atmosphere of earth]] |
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| − | **[[Atmospheric pressure]] and [[winds]] |
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| − | **[[Evaporation]], [[condensation]], and [[humidity]] |
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| − | **[[Fog]] and [[clouds]] |
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| − | *[[Meteorology]], [[weather]], [[climatogy]], and [[climate]] |
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| − | **[[Hydrology]], [[clouds]] and [[Precipitation (meteorology)|precipitation]] |
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| − | **[[Air masses]] and [[weather fronts]] |
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| − | **Major storms: [[thunderstorm]]s, [[tornado]]es, and [[hurricane]]s |
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| − | **[[Weather forecasting]] |
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| − | **[[Climate#classifications|Major climate groups]] |
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===Basic principles of physics=== |
===Basic principles of physics=== |
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*The principles of [[electricity]], [[magnetism]], and [[electromagnetism]] |
*The principles of [[electricity]], [[magnetism]], and [[electromagnetism]] |
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*The principles, sources, and properties of [[light]] |
*The principles, sources, and properties of [[light]] |
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| − | ==Notable physical scientists== |
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| − | * '''[[Aristotle]]''' - the last of the three great influential [[Ancient Greece|ancient Greek]] philosophers, although not considered to be a scientist by today's standards, nevertheless, he laid the foundations for today's [[scientific method]] by espousing the view that knowledge should be based on [[empricism|empirical observations]] instead of [[intuition (knowledge)|intuition]] or [[faith]]. |
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| − | * '''[[Archimedes]]''' - is considered to be the first mathematical [[physicist]] on record, and the best prior to [[Galileo]] and [[Newton]]. He established the laws of [[statics]], [[buoyancy]], and [[center of gravity]]. |
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| − | * '''[[Robert Boyle|Boyle, Robert]]''' - an [[Irish people|Irish]] [[natural philosopher]], is regarded as the "father of modern chemistry" due to his distinction between [[chemistry]] and [[alchemy]]. His namesake is [[Boyle's Law|Boyle's Law of an ideal gas]], which he discovered, but his contributions to physical science include the definition of a [[chemical element]], the propagation of sound, among others. |
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| − | * '''[[Nicolaus Copernicus|Copernicus, Nicolaus]]''' - a [[Polish people|Polish ]] [[mathematician]] and [[economist]], is considered by many to be the "father of modern astronomy" due to his detailed explanation of the [[heliocentric]] ([[Sun]]-centered]] [[solar system]]. |
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| − | * '''[[Marie Curie|Curie, Marie (maiden name: Sklodowska)]]''' - a [[Polish people|Polish]]-born [[France|French]] [[chemist]], was the first female [[Nobel laureate]], the first two-time Nobel laureate, and one of only two individuals to receive the [[Nobel prize]] in two different fields. She and her husband, [[Pierre Curie]] discovered the two elements [[Polonium]] and [[Radium]]. |
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| − | * '''[[Albert Einstein|Einstein, Albert]]''' - a theoretical [[physicist]], is widely regarded as the greatest scientist of the 20th century. He proposed the theory of relativity and was awarded the 1921 Nobel Prize for Physics, among other accomplishments. |
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| − | * '''[[Leonhard Euler|Euler, Leonhard]]''' - [[Switzerland|Swiss]] [[mathematician]] and [[physicist]], considered to be one of the greatest [[mathematicians]] of all times. His contributions to [[science]] includes the [[Euler-Bournoulli beam equation]] and [[Euler equations]]. |
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| − | * '''[[Galileo|Galilei, Galileo]]''' - an [[astronomer]] and [[physicist]], is considered the "father of modern physics," due, in large part, to his [[Galileo#Church Controvesy|conflict]] with the [[Roman Catholic Church]] over the authority of [[science]]. However, he has equally impressive scientific contributions to the fields of [[mechanics]], [[astronomy]], and mathematical physics. |
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| − | * '''[[Francis Bacon (philosopher)|Bacon, Francis]]''' - an [[Elizabethan]] [[philosopher]], is credited with the philosophical advocation for the [[Baconian method]], the early forerunner of the [[scientific method]]. |
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| − | * '''[[James Hutton|Hutton, James]]''' - a [[Scottish people|Scottish]] [[geologist]], is considered to be the "father of modern geology," for his formulation of [[uniformitarianism]], that the same geological processes operating today operated in the distant past. Based upon that assumption, he maintained that the age of the earth must be much older than a few thousand years. |
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| − | * '''[[Isaac Newton|Newton, Sir Isaac]]''' - a [[scientist]] and [[mathematician]], is most renowned for his description of the [[laws of motion]] and [[law of universal gravitation]]. |
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| − | * '''[[Linus Pauling]]''' - an [[United States|American]] [[quantum chemistry|quantum chemist]] and [[biochemistry|biochemist]], widely regarded as the premier chemist of the twentieth century. A pioneer in the application of [[quantum mechanics]] to chemistry, and one of the founders of [[molecular biology]]. |
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| − | * '''[[Thales|Thales of Miletus]]''' - a [[pre-Socratic]] [[Ancient Greece|Greek]] [[philosopher]], is considered to be the father of [[science]] becaused he first encouraged [[naturalism (philosophy)|naturalistic]] explanations of the world, without the [[supernatural]]. |
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| − | For a more comprehensive list of [[scientist]]s, see the [[list of scientists]], especially the following:<br> |
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| − | * [[List of astronomers]] |
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| − | * [[List of chemists]] |
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| − | * [[List of geologists]] |
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| − | * [[List of meteorologists]] |
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| − | * [[List of physicists]] |
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==See also== |
==See also== |
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* [[History of science]] |
* [[History of science]] |
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| − | * [[ |
+ | * [[Physicists]] |
| − | * [[Science]] |
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== External links == |
== External links == |
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[[Category:Science|Physical Science]] |
[[Category:Science|Physical Science]] |
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[[Category:Natural sciences]] |
[[Category:Natural sciences]] |
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| − | [[Category:Physical sciences| |
+ | [[Category:Physical sciences| ]] |
Latest revision as of 09:49, 21 June 2009
Physical science is an encompassing term for the branches of natural science, and science (generally), that study non-living systems, in contrast to the biological sciences. However, the term "physical" creates an unintended, somewhat arbitrary distinction, since many branches of physical science also study biological phenomena. Note that mathematics is not a physical science.
any principles of experimentation developed in the physical sciences have been adopted and built upon in the science of psychology.
Basic physical science topics of interest to psychologists include include:
The branches of physical science:
- Chemistry - the science dealing with the composition of substances, their interactions with energy and each other
- Physics - the quantitative science dealing with matter and energy
Basic principles of the physical sciences
The foundations of the physical sciences rests upon key concepts and theories, each of which explains and/or models a particular aspect of the behavior of nature. As in other sciences, these key concepts and theories came to discovery using the scientific method, which must be found using scientific evidence:
Basic principles of chemistry
Chemistry is the science of matter mainly at the micro-level. Its studies include the following:
- Atomic theory
- Principles of quantum mechanics
- The discovery and classification of pure elements
- Dmitri Mendeleev's creation of The Periodic Table of Chemical Elements showing the relationship of chemical elements
- Properties of groups, especially metals, and nonmetals
- Water and its properties
- Structure of the water molecule
- Properties of water solutions, such as acids, bases, acid-base reaction theories, and salts
- Chemical elements, chemical reactions, and chemical energy
- Chemical bonds
- Chemical formula based on chemical notation developed by Jöns Jakob Berzelius's
- Chemical compounds
- Chemical equations
- Nuclear chemistry
- The nature of the atomic nucleus
- Characterization of radioactive decay, originally discoverd by Henri Becquerel
- Organic chemistry, considered to have started in 1828 with the synthesis of urea by Friedrich Woehler
- Hydrocarbons, (see also Gallery Hydrocarbons)
- Hydrocarbon derivatives
- Organic chemistry functional groups
Basic principles of physics
Physics is the "fundamental science" because the other natural sciences (biology, chemistry, geology, etc.) deal with systems that obey the laws of physics. The physical laws of matter, energy, and the forces of nature govern the interactions between particles (such as molecules, atoms, or subatomic particles). Some basic principles of physics are:
- Describing and measuring motion
- The theory of gravity
- Energy, work, and power
- Motion, position, and energy
Energy forms
- Energy conservation, conversion, and transfer.
- Energy sources
- Kinetic Molecular Theory
- Phases of matter and phase changes
- 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
See also
External links
- PSI gate - Physical Sciences Information Gateway.
- Physical Sciences Resource Center, for education
- Astronomy: Sky and Telescope magazine
- Chemistry: General Chemistry Online
- Earth science: Earth Science World
- Physics: Physics Centralv
References
Tillery, B.W. (2005), Physical Science, 6/e, New York: McGraw-Hill. ISBN 0-07-250978-3 (Hardcover) ISBN 0-07-292207-9 (Paperback)
Fields within the natural sciences |
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