A brief introduction on physics. In these slides, I discuss what physics is and isn't, the differences between the natural and formal sciences, and much more. I also talk about the main categories in physics: Classical Mechanics Special Relativity General Relativity Thermodynamics Optics Electromagnetism Quantum Mechanics

2. WELCOME TO THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF
PHYSICS!

3. TYPES OF SCIENCES
• NATURAL SCIENCES VS FORMAL SCIENCES.
• NATURAL SCIENCES – DESCRIBE AND PREDICT PHENOMENA IN REALITY. BASED ON EMPIRICAL EVIDENCE,
REPEATABILITY AND PEER REVIEW. CAN BE SPLIT IN TO LIFE SCIENCES AND PHYSICAL SCIENCES.
• FORMAL SCIENCES – LANGUAGE TOOLS THAT CHARACTERIZE ABSTRACT IDEAS AND STRUCTURES USING
SYMBOLIC SYSTEMS. MATH, LOGIC, DECISION THEORY, ETC… ALL FALL UNDER THIS CATEGORY.
• THE STUDY OF THE “NATURAL” WORLD.
• THE MOST FUNDAMENTAL NATURAL SCIENCE.
• STUDIES ENERGY, MATTER, MOTION, AND ITS EVOLUTION THROUGH SPACE AND TIME.

4. SO…WHAT EXACTLY IS PHYSICS?
• A NATURAL SCIENCE.
• STUDIES ALL FORMS OF MATTER WITH THE DESIRE TO UNDERSTAND AND PREDICT THEIR MOTION,
BEHAVIOR AND EVOLUTION THROUGH SPACE-TIME.
• THE OLDEST AND MOST FUNDAMENTAL NATURAL SCIENCE.
• DOESN’T HAVE CLEARLY DEFINED, RIGID BOUNDARIES BECAUSE OF ITS INTERSECTIONAL,
INTERDISCIPLINARY NATURE.

5. MAIN AREAS OF PHYSICS
• CLASSICAL MECHANICS – THE STUDY OF MACROSCOPIC OBJECTS. ANYTHING VISIBLE THAT’S NOT ON THE
ORDER OF AN ATOM.
• SPECIAL RELATIVITY – THE STUDY OF OBJECTS MOVING AT ANY SPEED.
• GENERAL RELATIVITY – THE STUDY OF GRAVITY.
• THERMODYNAMICS – THE STUDY OF HEAT, WORK AND ENTROPY.
• OPTICS – THE STUDY OF LIGHT.
• ELECTROMAGNETISM – THE STUDY OF ELECTRICITY AND MAGNETISM.
• QUANTUM MECHANICS/QUANTUM FIELD THEORY – THE STUDY OF THE VERY SMALL.

6. THE BEAUTY OF PHYSICS
• EXCITING FIELD FULL OF DRAMA, NEW DISCOVERIES AND THEORIES COMING OUT ON A YEARLY BASIS.
• TRIES TO ANSWER THE MOST FUNDAMENTAL QUESTIONS IN EXISTENCE.
• IT’S JUST COOL, OK?

7. SOURCES
• HTTPS://EN.WIKIPEDIA.ORG/WIKI/FORMAL_SCIENCE
• HTTPS://EN.WIKIPEDIA.ORG/WIKI/NATURAL_SCIENCE
• PHYSICS FOR SCIENTISTS AND ENGINEERS, 9TH EDITION BY RAYMOND SERWAY AND JOHN JEWETT JR.
• FUNDAMENTALS OF PHYSICS, 10TH EDITION BY JEARL WALKER