physics
- An example of physics is the study of quantum mechanics.
- An example of physics is electrocution.
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See physics in Webster's New World College Dictionary
noun
- Obsolete natural philosophy
- the science dealing with the properties, changes, interactions, etc. of matter and energy in which energy is considered to be continuous (), including electricity, heat, optics, mechanics, etc., and now also dealing with the atomic scale of nature in which energy is considered to be discrete (), including such branches as atomic, nuclear, and solid-state physics
- a specific system of physics
- a book or treatise on any of these
plural noun
See physics in American Heritage Dictionary 4
(fĭzˈĭks)
noun- (used with a sing. verb) The science of matter and energy and of interactions between the two, grouped in traditional fields such as acoustics, optics, mechanics, thermodynamics, and electromagnetism, as well as in modern extensions including atomic and nuclear physics, cryogenics, solid-state physics, particle physics, and plasma physics.
- (used with a pl. verb) Physical properties, interactions, processes, or laws: the physics of supersonic flight.
- (used with a sing. verb) Archaic The study of the natural or material world and phenomena; natural philosophy.
See physics in Ologies
Physics
See also astronomy; cosmology; gravity; radiation.
the state or quality of having different properties along different axes. See also botany. —anisotropic, adj.
the condition of constant, uninterrupted variability of direction or position. —astatic, adj.
atomology
the theory of atoms.
the branch of physics that deals with living things. —biophysicist, n. —biophysical, adj.
ceraunics
the study of heat and electricity.
the science that studies crystallization and the forms and structures of crystals. —crystallographer, n. —crystallographic, crystallographical, adj.
a property of certain materials of being repelled by both poles of a magnet, thus taking a position at right angles to the magnet’s lines of influence.
the measurement of energy used in doing work. —dynamometer, n. —dynamometric, dynamometrical, adj.
orientation in relation to a current of electricity. —electrotropic, adj.
the branch of physics that studies energy and its transformation. —energeticist, n. —energeticistic, adj.
energism
a doctrine that asserts that certain phenomena can be explained in terms of energy. —energist, n.
faradism
the application of alternating electrical current for therapeutic purposes. —faradic, adj.
focimetry
the determination of focal length. —focimetric, adj.
Franklinism
static electricity. Also called Franklinic electricity.
a direct electrical current, especially one produced by chemical action. —galvanic, adj.
galvanology
a work on the production of electric current by chemical means. —galvanologist, n. —galvanological, adj.
the measurement of the strength of electric currents, by means of a galvanometer. —galvanometric, galvanometrical, adj.
the physics of the earth, including oceanography, volcanology, seismology, etc. —geophysicist, n. —geophysical, adj.
gyrostatics
the study of the behavior of rotating solid bodies. —gyrostatic, adj. —gyrostatically, adv.
halology
Chemistry. the study of salts. Also called halotechny.
the similarity of the crystalline forms of substances that have different chemical compositions. —homeomorphous, adj.
1. the science concerned with the laws governing water and other liquids in motion and their engineering applications.
2. applied or practical hydrodynamics.
the study of forces that act on or are produced by liquids. Also called hydromechanics. —hydrodynamic, hydrodynamical, adj.
the branch of hydrodynamics dealing with the laws of gases or liquids in motion. —hydrokinetic, adj.
hydrodynamics. —hygrometric, hygrometrical, adj.
the study of the equilibrium and pressure of liquids. —hydrostatician, n. —hydrostatic, hydrostatical, adj.
the branch of physics concerned with the measurement of moisture in the air. —hygrometric, hygrometrical, adj.
close similarity between the forms of different crystals. See also biology. —isomorph, n. —isomorphic, adj.
the branch of mechanics that deals with motion without reference to force or mass. —kinematic, kinematical, adj.
magnetology
the study of magnets and magnetism.
monosymmetry
the state exhibited by a crystal, having three unequal axes with one oblique intersection; the state of being monoclinic. See also biology. —monosymmetric, monosymmetrical, adj.
optotechnics
the technology of optical instruments and apparatus.
oscillography
the study of the wave-forms of changing currents, voltages, or any other quantity that can be translated into electricity, as light or sound waves. —oscillographic, adj.
osmometry
the measurement of osmotic pressure, or the force a dissolved substance exerts on a semipermeable membrane through which it cannot pass when separated by it from a pure solvent. —osmometric, adj.
physicism
the doctrine that explains the universe in physical terms.
the science that studies matter and energy in terms of motion and force. —physicist, n. —physical, adj.
a property of some crystals of showing variation in color when viewed in transmitted light or from different directions. Also called pleochromatism, polychroism, polychromatism. —pleochroic, pleochromatic, adj.
plenism
the theory that nature contains no vacuums. Cf. vacuism. —plenist, n.
pleochromatism, polychroism, polychromatism
pleochroism.
pyrology
the study of fire and heat, especially with regard to chemical analysis.
the measurement of radiant energy by means of a radiometer, an instrument composed of vanes which rotate at speeds proportionate to the intensity of the energy source. —radiometric, adj.
radiophony
the transformation of radiant energy into sound.
spectrobolometry
measurement of the distribution of energy in a spectrum by means of a spectrobolometer, an instrument combining a bolometer and a spectroscope. —spectrobolometric, adj.
staties
the branch of mechanics or physics that deals with matter and forces in equilibrium. —statical, adj.
sympalmograph
an apparatus for illustrating in graphic form the composition of two simple harmonic motions at right angles.
telemechanics
the science of operating or controlling mechanisms by remote control, especially by radio.
the science or study of the emission of electrons from substances at high temperatures. —thermionic, adj.
the science or study of the equilibrium of heat.
the science and technology of friction, lubrication, and wear.
a property, peculiar to certain crystals, of transmitting light of three different colors when viewed from three different directions. Also called trichromatism. —trichroic, adj.
1. the condition of having, using, or combining three colors.
2. trichroism. —trichromatic, adj.
trochilics
Rare. the science of rotary motion. —trochilic, adj.
vacuism
the theory that nature permits vacuums. Cf. plenism. —vacuist, n.
electricity generated by chemical means, as in a cell or battery; galvanism.
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