Introduction: The new physics for the Twenty-First Century
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 05 June 2014
Summary
Physics is the science of matter – the stuff of the Universe around us, and of energy – the capacity of matter to act in different ways. Physics is the systematic study of how this matter and energy behave, the explanation of what this reveals, and the understanding it brings. A magnificent allegory of what a physicist does can be found in the Old Testament, the Book of Job, Chapter 28.
For he looketh to the ends of the earth, and seeth under the whole heaven; To make the weight for the winds; and he weigheth the waters by measure. When he sought a decree for the rain, and a way for the lightning and the thunder. Then he did see it and declare it . . .
If our surroundings are seen as being built up of matter, much of Nature is ultimately physics, so physics underpins many other branches of science. It is difficult to be more ambitious than that. But as though such boldness were not enough of a challenge, new physics has gone on to reveal that matter and energy can exist in forms and behave in ways very different from those we know in everyday life. The goal becomes even more ambitious. Nature, and therefore physics, has become much wider than what we normally see around us.
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- The New PhysicsFor the Twenty-First Century, pp. 1 - 10Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2006