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Outline of physical science

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Physical science is a branch of natural science that studies non-living systems, in contrast to life
science. It in turn has many branches, each referred to as a "physical science", together called the
"physical sciences".

Definition
Physical science can be described as all of the following:

▪ A branch of science (a systematic enterprise that builds and organizes knowledge in the form
of testable explanations and predictions about the universe).[1][2][3]
▪ A branch of natural science – natural science is a major branch of science that tries to
explain and predict nature's phenomena, based on empirical evidence. In natural science,
hypotheses must be verified scientifically to be regarded as scientific theory. Validity,
accuracy, and social mechanisms ensuring quality control, such as peer review and
repeatability of findings, are amongst the criteria and methods used for this purpose.
Natural science can be broken into two main branches: life science (for example biology)
and physical science. Each of these branches, and all of their sub-branches, are referred to
as natural sciences.

Branches of physical science

▪ Physics – natural and physical science could involve the study of matter[4] and its motion
through space and time, along with related concepts such as energy and force.[5] More broadly,
it is the general analysis of nature, conducted in order to understand how the universe
behaves.[a][6][7]
▪ Branches of physics
▪ Astronomy – study of celestial objects (such as stars, galaxies, planets, moons, asteroids,
comets and nebulae), the physics, chemistry, and evolution of such objects, and phenomena
that originate outside the atmosphere of Earth, including supernovae explosions, gamma-ray
bursts, and cosmic microwave background radiation.
▪ Branches of astronomy
▪ Chemistry – studies the composition, structure, properties and change of matter.[8][9] In this
realm, chemistry deals with such topics as the properties of individual atoms, the manner in
which atoms form chemical bonds in the formation of compounds, the interactions of
substances through intermolecular forces to give matter its general properties, and the
interactions between substances through chemical reactions to form different substances.
▪ Branches of chemistry

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▪ Earth science – all-embracing term referring to the fields of science dealing with planet Earth.
Earth science is the study of how the natural environment (ecosphere or Earth system) works
and how it evolved to its current state. It includes the study of the atmosphere, hydrosphere,
lithosphere, and biosphere.

History of physical science

History of physical science – history of the branch of natural science that studies non-living
systems, in contrast to the life sciences. It in turn has many branches, each referred to as a
"physical science", together called the "physical sciences". However, the term "physical" creates an
unintended, somewhat arbitrary distinction, since many branches of physical science also study
biological phenomena (organic chemistry, for example). The four main branches of physical
science are astronomy, physics, chemistry, and the Earth sciences, which include meteorology and
geology.

▪ 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 study of 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

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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 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.
▪ History of 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

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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 quantitatively investigates 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 polymerization 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 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.

▪ History of chemistry – history of the physical science of atomic matter (matter that is composed
of chemical elements), especially its chemical reactions, but also including its properties,
structure, composition, behavior, and changes as they relate the chemical reactions
▪ History of analytical chemistry – history of the study of the separation, identification, and
quantification of the chemical components of natural and artificial materials.
▪ History of astrochemistry – history of the study of the abundance and reactions of chemical
elements and molecules in the universe, and their interaction with radiation.
▪ History of cosmochemistry – history of the study of the chemical composition of matter
in the universe and the processes that led to those compositions
▪ History of atmospheric chemistry – history of the branch of atmospheric science in which
the chemistry of the Earth's atmosphere and that of other planets is studied. It is a
multidisciplinary field of research and draws on environmental chemistry, physics,
meteorology, computer modeling, oceanography, geology and volcanology, and other
disciplines
▪ History of biochemistry – history of the study of chemical processes in living organisms,
including, but not limited to, living matter. Biochemistry governs all living organisms and

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living processes.
▪ History of agrochemistry – history of the study of both chemistry and biochemistry which
are important in agricultural production, the processing of raw products into foods and
beverages, and in environmental monitoring and remediation.
▪ History of bioinorganic chemistry – history of the examines the role of metals in biology.
▪ History of bioorganic chemistry – history of the rapidly growing scientific discipline that
combines organic chemistry and biochemistry.
▪ History of biophysical chemistry – history of the new branch of chemistry that covers a
broad spectrum of research activities involving biological systems.
▪ History of environmental chemistry – history of the scientific study of the chemical and
biochemical phenomena that occur in natural places.
▪ History of immunochemistry – history of the branch of chemistry that involves the study
of the reactions and components on the immune system.
▪ History of medicinal chemistry – history of the discipline at the intersection of chemistry,
especially synthetic organic chemistry, and pharmacology and various other biological
specialties, where they are involved with design, chemical synthesis, and development
for market of pharmaceutical agents (drugs).
▪ History of pharmacology – history of the branch of medicine and biology concerned with
the study of drug action.
▪ History of natural product chemistry – history of the chemical compound or substance
produced by a living organism – history of the found in nature that usually has a
pharmacological or biological activity for use in pharmaceutical drug discovery and drug
design.
▪ History of neurochemistry – history of the specific study of neurochemicals, which
include neurotransmitters and other molecules such as neuro-active drugs that
influence neuron function.
▪ History of computational chemistry – history of the branch of chemistry that uses principles
of computer science to assist in solving chemical problems.
▪ History of chemo-informatics – history of the use of computer and informational
techniques, applied to a range of problems in the field of chemistry.
▪ History of molecular mechanics – history of the uses Newtonian mechanics to model
molecular systems.
▪ History of Flavor chemistry – history of someone who uses chemistry to engineer artificial
and natural flavors.
▪ History of Flow chemistry – history of the chemical reaction is run in a continuously flowing
stream rather than in batch production.
▪ History of geochemistry – history of the study of the mechanisms behind major geological
systems using chemistry
▪ History of aqueous geochemistry – history of the study of the role of various elements in
watersheds, including copper, sulfur, mercury, and how elemental fluxes are exchanged
through atmospheric-terrestrial-aquatic interactions
▪ History of isotope geochemistry – history of the study of the relative and absolute
concentrations of the elements and their isotopes using chemistry and geology
▪ History of ocean chemistry – history of the study of the chemistry of marine
environments including the influences of different variables.

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▪ History of organic geochemistry – history of the study of the impacts and processes that
organisms have had on Earth
▪ History of regional, environmental and exploration geochemistry – history of the study of
the spatial variation in the chemical composition of materials at the surface of the Earth
▪ History of inorganic chemistry – history of the branch of chemistry concerned with the
properties and behavior of inorganic compounds.
▪ History of nuclear chemistry – history of the subfield of chemistry dealing with radioactivity,
nuclear processes, and nuclear properties.
▪ History of radiochemistry – history of the chemistry of radioactive materials, where
radioactive isotopes of elements are used to study the properties and chemical
reactions of non-radioactive isotopes (often within radiochemistry the absence of
radioactivity leads to a substance being described as being inactive as the isotopes are
stable).
▪ History of organic chemistry – history of the study of the structure, properties, composition,
reactions, and preparation (by synthesis or by other means) of carbon-based compounds,
hydrocarbons, and their derivatives.
▪ History of petrochemistry – history of the branch of chemistry that studies the
transformation of crude oil (petroleum) and natural gas into useful products or raw
materials.
▪ History of organometallic chemistry – history of the study of chemical compounds
containing bonds between carbon and a metal.
▪ History of photochemistry – history of the study of chemical reactions that proceed with the
absorption of light by atoms or molecules..
▪ History of physical chemistry – history of the study of macroscopic, atomic, subatomic, and
particulate phenomena in chemical systems in terms of physical laws and concepts.
▪ History of chemical kinetics – history of the study of rates of chemical processes.
▪ History of chemical thermodynamics – history of the study of the interrelation of heat
and work with chemical reactions or with physical changes of state within the confines
of the laws of thermodynamics.
▪ History of electrochemistry – history of the branch of chemistry that studies chemical
reactions which take place in a solution at the interface of an electron conductor (a
metal or a semiconductor) and an ionic conductor (the electrolyte), and which involve
electron transfer between the electrode and the electrolyte or species in solution.
▪ History of Femtochemistry – history of the Femtochemistry is the science that studies
chemical reactions on extremely short timescales, approximately 10−15 seconds (one
femtosecond, hence the name).
▪ History of mathematical chemistry – history of the area of research engaged in novel
applications of mathematics to chemistry; it concerns itself principally with the
mathematical modeling of chemical phenomena.
▪ History of mechanochemistry – history of the coupling of the mechanical and the
chemical phenomena on a molecular scale and includes mechanical breakage,
chemical behavior of mechanically stressed solids (e.g., stress-corrosion cracking),
tribology, polymer degradation under shear, cavitation-related phenomena (e.g.,
sonochemistry and sonoluminescence), shock wave chemistry and physics, and even
the burgeoning field of molecular machines.

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▪ History of physical organic chemistry – history of the study of the interrelationships

between structure and reactivity in organic molecules.
▪ History of quantum chemistry – history of the branch of chemistry whose primary focus
is the application of quantum mechanics in physical models and experiments of
chemical systems.
▪ History of sonochemistry – history of the study of the effect of sonic waves and wave
properties on chemical systems.
▪ History of stereochemistry – history of the study of the relative spatial arrangement of
atoms within molecules.
▪ History of supramolecular chemistry – history of the area of chemistry beyond the
molecules and focuses on the chemical systems made up of a discrete number of
assembled molecular subunits or components.
▪ History of thermochemistry – history of the study of the energy and heat associated with
chemical reactions and/or physical transformations.
▪ History of phytochemistry – history of the strict sense of the word the study of
phytochemicals.
▪ History of polymer chemistry – history of the multidisciplinary science that deals with the
chemical synthesis and chemical properties of polymers or macromolecules.
▪ History of solid-state chemistry – history of the study of the synthesis, structure, and
properties of solid phase materials, particularly, but not necessarily exclusively of, non-
molecular solids
▪ Multidisciplinary fields involving chemistry
▪ History of chemical biology – history of the scientific discipline spanning the fields of
chemistry and biology that involves the application of chemical techniques and tools,
often compounds produced through synthetic chemistry, to the study and manipulation
of biological systems.
▪ History of chemical engineering – history of the branch of engineering that deals with
physical science (e.g., chemistry and physics), and life sciences (e.g., biology,
microbiology and biochemistry) with mathematics and economics, to the process of
converting raw materials or chemicals into more useful or valuable forms.
▪ History of chemical oceanography – history of the study of the behavior of the chemical
elements within the Earth's oceans.
▪ History of chemical physics – history of the branch of physics that studies chemical
processes from the point of view of physics.
▪ History of materials science – history of the interdisciplinary field applying the properties
of matter to various areas of science and engineering.
▪ History of nanotechnology – history of the study of manipulating matter on an atomic
and molecular scale
▪ History of oenology – history of the science and study of all aspects of wine and
winemaking except vine-growing and grape-harvesting, which is a subfield called
viticulture.
▪ History of spectroscopy – history of the study of the interaction between matter and
radiated energy
▪ History of surface science – history of the Surface science is the study of physical and
chemical phenomena that occur at the interface of two phases, including solid–liquid
interfaces, solid–gas interfaces, solid–vacuum interfaces, and liquid–gas interfaces.

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▪ History of Earth science – history of the all-embracing term for the sciences related to the
planet Earth. Earth science, and all of its branches, are branches of physical science.
▪ History of atmospheric sciences – history of the umbrella term for the study of the
atmosphere, its processes, the effects other systems have on the atmosphere, and the
effects of the atmosphere on these other systems.
▪ History of climatology
▪ History of meteorology
▪ History of atmospheric chemistry
▪ History of biogeography – history of the study of the distribution of species (biology),
organisms, and ecosystems in geographic space and through geological time.
▪ History of cartography – history of the study and practice of making maps or globes.
▪ History of climatology – history of the study of climate, scientifically defined as weather
conditions averaged over a period of time
▪ History of coastal geography – history of the study of the dynamic interface between the
ocean and the land, incorporating both the physical geography (i.e. coastal geomorphology,
geology and oceanography) and the human geography (sociology and history) of the coast.
▪ History of environmental science – history of an integrated, quantitative, and
interdisciplinary approach to the study of environmental systems.
▪ History of ecology – history of the scientific study of the distribution and abundance of
living organisms and how the distribution and abundance are affected by interactions
between the organisms and their environment.
▪ History of Freshwater biology – history of the scientific biological study of freshwater
ecosystems and is a branch of limnology
▪ History of marine biology – history of the scientific study of organisms in the ocean
or other marine or brackish bodies of water
▪ History of parasitology – history of the Parasitology is the study of parasites, their
hosts, and the relationship between them.
▪ History of population dynamics – history of the Population dynamics is the branch of
life sciences that studies short-term and long-term changes in the size and age
composition of populations, and the biological and environmental processes
influencing those changes.
▪ History of environmental chemistry – history of the Environmental chemistry is the
scientific study of the chemical and biochemical phenomena that occur in natural
places.
▪ History of environmental soil science – history of the Environmental soil science is the
study of the interaction of humans with the pedosphere as well as critical aspects of the
biosphere, the lithosphere, the hydrosphere, and the atmosphere.
▪ History of environmental geology – history of the Environmental geology, like
hydrogeology, is an applied science concerned with the practical application of the
principles of geology in the solving of environmental problems.
▪ History of toxicology – history of the branch of biology, chemistry, and medicine
concerned with the study of the adverse effects of chemicals on living organisms.
▪ History of geodesy – history of the scientific discipline that deals with the measurement and
representation of the Earth, including its gravitational field, in a three-dimensional time-

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varying space
▪ History of geography – history of the science that studies the lands, features, inhabitants,
and phenomena of Earth
▪ History of geoinformatics – history of the science and the technology which develops and
uses information science infrastructure to address the problems of geography, geosciences
and related branches of engineering.
▪ History of geology – history of the study of the Earth, with the general exclusion of present-
day life, flow within the ocean, and the atmosphere.
▪ History of planetary geology – history of the planetary science discipline concerned with
the geology of the celestial bodies such as the planets and their moons, asteroids,
comets, and meteorites.
▪ History of geomorphology – history of the scientific study of landforms and the processes
that shape them
▪ History of geostatistics – history of the branch of statistics focusing on spatial or
spatiotemporal datasets
▪ 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 glaciology – history of the study of glaciers, or more generally ice and natural
phenomena that involve ice.
▪ History of hydrology – history of the study of the movement, distribution, and quality of
water on Earth and other planets, including the hydrologic cycle, water resources and
environmental watershed sustainability.
▪ History of hydrogeology – history of the area of geology that deals with the distribution and
movement of groundwater in the soil and rocks of the Earth's crust (commonly in aquifers).
▪ History of mineralogy – history of the study of chemistry, crystal structure, and physical
(including optical) properties of minerals.
▪ History of meteorology – history of the interdisciplinary scientific study of the atmosphere
which explains and forecasts weather events.
▪ History of oceanography – history of the branch of Earth science that studies the ocean
▪ History of paleoclimatology – history of the study of changes in climate taken on the scale
of the entire history of Earth
▪ History of paleontology – history of the study of prehistoric life
▪ History of petrology – history of the branch of geology that studies the origin, composition,
distribution and structure of rocks.
▪ History of limnology – history of the study of inland waters
▪ History of seismology – history of the scientific study of earthquakes and the propagation of
elastic waves through the Earth or through other planet-like bodies
▪ History of soil science – history of the study of soil as a natural resource on the surface of
the earth including soil formation, classification and mapping; physical, chemical, biological,
and fertility properties of soils; and these properties in relation to the use and management
of soils.
▪ History of topography – history of the study of surface shape and features of the Earth and
other observable astronomical objects including planets, moons, and asteroids.
▪ History of volcanology – history of the study of volcanoes, lava, magma, and related
geological, geophysical and geochemical phenomena.

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General principles of the physical sciences

▪ Principle – law or rule that has to be, or usually is to be followed, or can be desirably followed,
or is an inevitable consequence of something, such as the laws observed in nature or the way
that a system is constructed. The principles of such a system are understood by its users as
the essential characteristics of the system, or reflecting system's designed purpose, and the
effective operation or use of which would be impossible if any one of the principles was to be
ignored.

Basic principles of physics

Physics – branch of science that studies matter[4] and its motion through space and time, along
with related concepts such as energy and force.[5] 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 four laws of thermodynamics
▪ The principles of waves and sound
▪ The principles of electricity, magnetism, and electromagnetism
▪ The principles, sources, and properties of light

Basic principles of astronomy

Astronomy – science of celestial bodies and their interactions in space. Its studies include the

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following:

▪ The life and characteristics of stars and galaxies

▪ Origins of the universe. Physical science uses the Big Bang theory as the commonly accepted
scientific theory of the origin of the universe.
▪ A heliocentric Solar System. Ancient cultures saw the Earth as the centre of the Solar System
or universe (geocentrism). In the 16th century, Nicolaus Copernicus advanced the ideas of
heliocentrism, recognizing the Sun as the centre of the Solar System.
▪ The structure of solar systems, planets, comets, asteroids, and meteors
▪ The shape and structure of Earth (roughly spherical, see also Spherical Earth)
▪ Earth in the Solar System
▪ Time measurement
▪ The composition and features of the Moon
▪ Interactions of the Earth and Moon

(Note: Astronomy should not be confused with astrology, which assumes[10][11][12] that people's
destiny and human affairs in general correlate 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.)

Basic principles of chemistry

Chemistry – branch of science that studies the composition, structure, properties and change of
matter.[8][9] Chemistry is chiefly concerned with atoms and molecules and their interactions and
transformations, for example, the properties of the chemical bonds formed between atoms to
create chemical compounds. As such, chemistry studies the involvement of electrons and various
forms of energy in photochemical reactions, oxidation-reduction reactions, changes in phases of
matter, and separation of mixtures. Preparation and properties of complex substances, such as
alloys, polymers, biological molecules, and pharmaceutical agents are considered in specialized
fields of chemistry.

▪ Physical chemistry
▪ Chemical thermodynamics
▪ Reaction kinetics
▪ Molecular structure
▪ Quantum chemistry
▪ Spectroscopy
▪ Theoretical chemistry
▪ Electron configuration
▪ Molecular modelling
▪ Molecular dynamics
▪ Statistical mechanics
▪ Computational chemistry

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▪ Mathematical chemistry
▪ Cheminformatics
▪ Nuclear chemistry
▪ The nature of the
atomic nucleus
▪ Characterization of
radioactive decay
▪ Nuclear reactions
▪ Organic chemistry
▪ Organic compounds
▪ Organic reaction
▪ Functional groups
▪ Organic synthesis
▪ Inorganic chemistry
▪ Inorganic compounds
▪ Crystal structure
▪ Coordination chemistry
▪ Solid-state chemistry
▪ Biochemistry
▪ Analytical chemistry
▪ Instrumental analysis
▪ Electroanalytical
method
▪ Wet chemistry
▪ Electrochemistry
▪ Redox reaction
▪ Materials chemistry

Basic principles of Earth

science Chemistry, the central science, partial ordering of the sciences proposed by
Balaban and Klein.
Earth science – the science of
the planet Earth, as of 2018
the only identified life-bearing planet. Its studies include the following:

▪ The water cycle and the process of transpiration

▪ Freshwater
▪ Oceanography
▪ Weathering and erosion

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▪ Rocks
▪ Agrophysics
▪ Soil science
▪ Pedogenesis
▪ Soil fertility
▪ Earth's tectonic structure
▪ Geomorphology and geophysics
▪ Physical geography
▪ Seismology: stress, strain, and earthquakes
▪ Characteristics of mountains and volcanoes
▪ Characteristics and formation of fossils
▪ Atmospheric sciences – the branches of science that study the atmosphere, its processes, the
effects other systems have on the atmosphere, and the effects of the atmosphere on these
other systems.
▪ Atmosphere of Earth
▪ Atmospheric pressure and winds
▪ Evaporation, condensation, and humidity
▪ Fog and clouds
▪ Meteorology, weather, climatology, and climate
▪ Hydrology, clouds and precipitation
▪ Air masses and weather fronts
▪ Major storms: thunderstorms, tornadoes, and hurricanes
▪ Major climate groups
▪ Speleology
▪ Cave

Notable physical scientists

▪ List of physicists
▪ List of astronomers
▪ List of chemists

Earth scientists
▪ List of Russian Earth scientists

See also
▪ Outline of science

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▪ Outline of natural science

▪ Outline of physical science
▪ Outline of earth science
▪ Outline of formal science
▪ Outline of social science
▪ Outline of applied science

Notes
a. 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.

References
1. Wilson, Edward O. (1998). Consilience: The Unity of Knowledge (https://archive.org/details/con
silienceunity00wils/page/49) (1st ed.). New York, NY: Vintage Books. pp. 49–71 (https://archiv
e.org/details/consilienceunity00wils/page/49). ISBN 0-679-45077-7.
2. "... modern science is a discovery as well as an invention. It was a discovery that nature
generally acts regularly enough to be described by laws and even by mathematics; and
required invention to devise the techniques, abstractions, apparatus, and organization for
exhibiting the regularities and securing their law-like descriptions." —p.vii, J. L. Heilbron, (2003,
editor-in-chief). The Oxford Companion to the History of Modern Science. New York: Oxford
University Press. ISBN 0-19-511229-6.
3. "science" (http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/science). Merriam-Webster Online
Dictionary. Merriam-Webster, Inc. Retrieved 2011-10-16. "3 a: knowledge or a system of
knowledge covering general truths or the operation of general laws especially as obtained and
tested through scientific method b: such knowledge or such a system of knowledge concerned
with the physical world and its phenomena"
4. 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)
5. "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)
6. Young & Freedman 2014, p. 9
7. "Physics is the study of your world and the world and universe around you." (Holzner 2006,
p. 7)
8. Russell, John B. "What is Chemistry?" (https://web.archive.org/web/20210103071622/http://che
mweb.ucc.ie/what_is_chemistry.htm). Chemweb.ucc.ie. Archived from the original (http://chem
web.ucc.ie/what_is_chemistry.htm) on 3 January 2021.

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Outline of physical science - Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Outline_of_physical_science

9. Chemistry (http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/Chemistry) Archived (https://web.archive.org

/web/20160305233029/http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/chemistry) 2016-03-05 at the
Wayback Machine. (n.d.). Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary. Retrieved August 19, 2007.
10. Scharringhausen, Britt. "What's the difference between astronomy and astrology? (Beginner) –
Curious About Astronomy? Ask an Astronomer" (http://curious.astro.cornell.edu/about-us/145-p
eople-in-astronomy/careers-in-astronomy/general-questions/899-what-s-the-difference-betwee
n-astronomy-and-astrology-beginner). curious.astro.cornell.edu. Retrieved 2017-05-27.
11. Temming, Maria (July 14, 2014). "Astrology vs Astronomy: What's the Difference?" (https://ww
w.skyandtelescope.com/astronomy-resources/whats-difference-astrology-vs-astronomy/). Sky
& Telescope.
12. "astrology | Origin and meaning of astrology by Online Etymology Dictionary" (http://www.etym
online.com/word/astrology). www.etymonline.com. Retrieved 2017-10-17.

Works cited
▪ Feynman, R.P.; Leighton, R.B.; Sands, M. (1963). The Feynman Lectures on Physics. Vol. 1.
ISBN 0-201-02116-1.
▪ Holzner, S. (2006). Physics for Dummies (https://www.amazon.com/gp/reader/0764554336).
John Wiley & Sons. ISBN 0-470-61841-8. "Physics is the study of your world and universe
around you."
▪ Maxwell, J.C. (1878). Matter and Motion (https://archive.org/details/matterandmotion03maxwgo
og). D. Van Nostrand. ISBN 0-486-66895-9.
▪ Young, H.D.; Freedman, R.A. (2014). Sears and Zemansky's University Physics with Modern
Physics Technology Update (13th ed.). Pearson Education. ISBN 978-1-292-02063-1.

External links
▪ Physical science topics and articles for school curricula (grades K-12) (https://ck12.org/physical
-science/)

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