classical physics
Newton and Maxwell
Classical physics encompasses the branches of physics developed before the twentieth century—primarily Newtonian mechanics, thermodynamics, and electromagnetism.
The term emerged to distinguish these theories from quantum mechanics and relativity, which revealed that classical laws break down at atomic scales and near light speed.
Classical physics remains accurate for everyday objects moving at ordinary speeds: Classical physics explains planetary orbits but not electron behavior.
Famous scientific surname
- laws of motionPrinciples governing physical dynamics
- inertiaResistance to altered motion
- gravityMutual mass attraction
- massQuantity of matter
momentum · determinism · Galileo · Kepler · calculus · inverse square law · action reaction · universal gravitation
Resistance between touching surfaces
- tensionStretched or strained state
- normal forcePerpendicular surface contact force
- gravityMutual mass attraction
- pressureForce upon contact
buoyancy · drag · lift · thrust · torque · shear · elasticity · weight
Study of movement itself
- dynamicsStudy of forces
- staticsMechanics of equilibrium
- equilibriumState of balance
- torqueRotational force measurement
lever · pulley · fulcrum · rigid body · simple machine · inclined plane · angular momentum · moment of inertia
Directed rate of motion
- accelerationRate velocity changes
- displacementRemoval from usual location
- trajectoryPath of moving object
- speedRate of motion
projectile · pendulum · oscillation · rotation · translation · circular motion · free fall · terminal velocity
Transferred thermal energy
- temperatureMeasured heat intensity
- entropyQuantified chaos in systems
- enthalpyThermodynamic total heat quantity
- isothermalAt uniform temperature
calorimetry · specific heat · thermal equilibrium · laws of thermodynamics · heat engine · Boltzmann · ideal gas law · Boyle's law
Spatial repetition interval
- frequencyRate of recurrence
- amplitudeMaximum oscillation displacement
- oscillationRepeated back-and-forth movement
- interferenceUnwelcome involvement in affairs
diffraction · reflection · refraction · resonance · standing wave · harmonic · superposition · Doppler effect
Power from movement
- potential energyWork available from position
- conservation of energyEnergy transforms, never vanishes
- workEffort toward a goal
- powerEnergy transfer rate
joule · mechanical energy · energy transformation · efficiency · horsepower · watt · energy transfer
Region affecting nearby charges
- magnetic fieldForce zone around magnets
- FaradayElectromagnetism pioneer's surname
- MaxwellScottish-origin given name
- electromagnetic inductionVoltage from field changes
capacitance · electric potential · current · resistance · Ohm's law · magnetic flux · solenoid · electric charge
Newton
Famous scientific surname
- laws of motionPrinciples governing physical dynamics
- inertiaResistance to altered motion
- gravityMutual mass attraction
mass · momentum · determinism · Galileo · Kepler · calculus · inverse square law · action reaction · universal gravitation · rest
friction
Resistance between touching surfaces
- tensionStretched or strained state
- normal forcePerpendicular surface contact force
- gravityMutual mass attraction
pressure · buoyancy · drag · lift · thrust · torque · shear · elasticity · weight · net force
kinematics
Study of movement itself
- dynamicsStudy of forces
- staticsMechanics of equilibrium
- equilibriumState of balance
torque · lever · pulley · fulcrum · rigid body · simple machine · inclined plane · angular momentum · moment of inertia · rotational motion
velocity
Directed rate of motion
- accelerationRate velocity changes
- displacementRemoval from usual location
- trajectoryPath of moving object
speed · projectile · pendulum · oscillation · rotation · translation · circular motion · free fall · terminal velocity · period
heat
Transferred thermal energy
- temperatureMeasured heat intensity
- entropyQuantified chaos in systems
- enthalpyThermodynamic total heat quantity
isothermal · calorimetry · specific heat · thermal equilibrium · laws of thermodynamics · heat engine · Boltzmann · ideal gas law · Boyle's law · kinetic theory
wavelength
Spatial repetition interval
- frequencyRate of recurrence
- amplitudeMaximum oscillation displacement
- oscillationRepeated back-and-forth movement
interference · diffraction · reflection · refraction · resonance · standing wave · harmonic · superposition · Doppler effect · wave speed
kinetic energy
Power from movement
- potential energyWork available from position
- conservation of energyEnergy transforms, never vanishes
- workEffort toward a goal
power · joule · mechanical energy · energy transformation · efficiency · horsepower · watt · energy transfer
electric field
Region affecting nearby charges
- magnetic fieldForce zone around magnets
- FaradayElectromagnetism pioneer's surname
- MaxwellScottish-origin given name
electromagnetic induction · capacitance · electric potential · current · resistance · Ohm's law · magnetic flux · solenoid · electric charge · conductivity
- physicsmomentum, atom, acceleration, gravity, force
- mechanicsforce, turning, rotation, momentum, velocity
- mechanismmechanism, clockwork universe, Newtonian mechanics, automata, automatism
classical physicsquantum mechanics
Physics at nanoscopic scales
quantum physics · modern physics · quantum theory · general relativity · special relativity
classical physicsmodern physics
Science of subatomic and relativistic phenomena
classic, classical, classically, classicism, classicist, classics, class, classy, classify