ScienceForDummies: Physics Introduction

 This is the second week of our ScienceForDummies new format and we are entering a 4-term period where we discuss particularly physics. This week will just be an introduction on the question "what is physics?".

  1. the branch of science concerned with the nature and properties of matter and energy. The subject matter of physics, distinguished from that of chemistry and biology, includes mechanics, heat, light and other radiation, sound, electricity, magnetism, and the structure of atoms.

That is the standardized definition of the word "Physics". Let's break the paragraph-long definition down and explain it. "the branch of science" is fairly practical - basically a kind of science. "concerned"  can mean "relating to" and "about". "with the nature and properties" means it is about how something is - its nature - and its particular features - its properties. "of matter and energy" means about matter - which we will explain later - and energy - two concepts often used. The next clause distinguishes physics from chemistry and biology, the two main other studies. 

It is also about mechanics, often mathematical, and about heat, light, radiation, sound electricity, magnetism, and structure of atoms. The goal for the next three weeks is to cover said things. That concludes the definition of phsyics.
Next Week: Matter and Energy

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