Branches of physics

There are generally 11 branches of physics. These are as follows.

Branches of Physics

Classical physics
Modern physics
Nuclear physics
Atomic physics
Geophysics
Biophysics
Mechanics
Acoustics
Optics
Thermodynamics
Astrophysics

Classical Physics

This branch of physics is mainly concerned with the laws of motion and gravitation as outlined in Sir Isaac Newton and James Clark Maxwell’s kinetic theory and thermodynamics, respectively. This branch of physics deals mostly with matter and energy. Often, physics which date before 1900 are considered classical physics, whereas physic which date after 1900 are considered modern physics.

Acoustics, optics, classical mechanics, and electromagnetics are traditionally branches within classical physics.

Newton's Laws of motion are one of the main features of classical physics.

Modern Physics

Modern physics is a branch of physics that is mainly concerned with the theory of relativity and quantum mechanics.

Albert Einstein and Max Plank were the pioneers of modern of physics as the first scientists to introduce the theory of relativity and quantum mechanics, respectively.

In modern physics, energy and matter are not considered as separate entities. Rather, they are considered different forms of each other.

The two pillars of modern physics are as follows.

Albert Einstein's theory of relativity
Max Plank's quantum theory.

Nuclear Physics

Nuclear physics is a branch of physics that deals with the constituents, structure, behaviour and interactions of atomic nuclei. This branch of physics should not be confused with atomic physics, which studies the atom as a whole, including its electrons.

It is used in power generation, nuclear weapons, medicines, magnetic resonance, imaging, industrial and agricultural isotopes, and more.

Atomic Physics

Atomic physics is a branch of physics that deals with the composition of the atom apart from the nucleus. It is mainly concerned with the arrangement and behaviour of electrons in the shells around the nucleus.

Geophysics

Geophysics is a branch of physics that deals with the study of the Earth. It is mainly concerned with the shape, structure and composition of the Earth, but geophysicists also study gravitational force, magnetic fields, earthquakes, magma, and more.

Biophysics

Biophysics studies biological problems and the structure of molecules in living organisms using techniques derived from physics. One of the most groundbreaking achievements of biophysics is the discovery of the structure of DNA (Deoxyribonucleic Acid) by James Watson and Francis Crick.

Mechanical Physics

Mechanical physics is a branch of physics that deals with the motion of material objects under the influence of forces.

Often called just mechanics, mechanical physics falls under two main branches:

Classical mechanics
Quantum mechanics

Classical mechanics deals with the laws of motion of physical objects and the forces that cause the motion, while quantum mechanics is the branch of physics which deals with the behaviour of smallest particles (i.e. electrons, neutrons, and protons).

Mechanics can be broken down into eight sub-branches. These are as follows:

Applied mechanics
Celestial mechanics
Continuum mechanics
Dynamics
Kinematics
Kinetics
Statics
Statistical mechanics

Acoustics

acoustics is a branch of physics that studies how sound is produced, transmitted, received and controlled. Acoustics also deals with the effects of sounds in various mediums (i.e. gas, liquid, and solids).

Optics

Optics is a branch of physics that studies electromagnetic radiation (for example, light and infrared radiation), its interactions with matter, and instruments used to gather information due to these interactions. Optics includes the study of sight.

Thermodynamics

Thermodynamics is a branch of physics that deals with heat and temperature and their relation to energy and work. The behaviour of these quantities is governed by the four laws of thermodynamics.

Astrophysics

astrophysics can be defined as a branch of astronomy which is concerned with the study of universe (i.e., stars, galaxies, and planets) using the laws of physics.

astronomers only measure the positions and characteristics of celestial bodies, whereas astrophysicists use the application physics to understand astronomy.

भौतिकी को मुख्य दो भागों में बांटा गया है:
1. चिरसम्मत भौतिकी (Classical Physics)
2. आधुनिक भौतिकी (Modern Physics)
1. चिरसम्मत भौतिकी (Classical Physics)
1900 ई. तक की भौतिकी को चिरसम्मत भौतिकी माना जाता है. इसकी प्रमुख उपशाखाएं इस प्रकार हैं:
A. यान्त्रिकी (Mechanics): इसमें द्रव्य के गुणों तथा प्रकाश की अपेक्षा निम्न चाल से चलने वाली वस्तुओं की गति का अध्ययन किया जाता है.
B. प्रकाशिकी (Optics): इसमें प्रकाश तथा इसके उत्पादन, संचरण एवं संसूचन (detection) से सम्बंधित सभी घटनाओं का अध्ययन किया जाता है.
C. ध्वनि एवं तरंग गति (Sound and Wave motion):इसके अंतर्गत तरंग गति एवं ध्वनि का उत्पादन तथा संचरण का अध्ययन किया जाता है.
D. ऊष्मा एवं ऊष्मागतिकी (Heat and Thermodynamics): इस शाखा में ऊष्मा की प्रक्रति, उसका संचरण एवं उसके कार्य में परिवर्तन का अध्ययन किया जाता है.
E. विद्युत-चुम्बकत्व (Electromagnetism): इसमें विद्युत, चुम्बकत्व एवं विद्युत-चुम्बकीय विकिरण का अध्ययन किया जाता है.

2. आधुनिक भौतिकी (Modern Physics): इसमें मुख्यत: बीसवीं शताब्दी की भौतिकी का अध्ययन किया जाता है. इसकी प्रमुख उपशाखाएं इस प्रकार हैं:
A. परमाणु भौतिकी (Modern Physics): इसमें परमाणु की संरचना एवं विकिरण के साथ उसकी अन्योन्यक्रियाओं (interactions) का अध्ययन किया जाता है.
B. नाभिकीय भौतिकी (Nuclear Physics): इसमें नाभिक की संरचना एवं नाभिकीय कणों की अन्योन्यक्रियाओं (interactions) का अध्ययन किया जाता है.
C. क्वांटम यान्त्रिकी (Quantum Physics): यह एक विशेष प्रकार की यान्त्रिकी है जिसमें अणुओं, परमाणुओं और नाभिकीय कणों के व्यवहार का वर्णन किया जाता है.
D. आपेक्षिकता का सिद्धांत (Theory of Relativity): 1905 में आइंस्टाइन ने आपेक्षिकता का विशिष्ट (special) सिद्धांत प्रतिपादित किया जिसमें उन नियमों का वर्णन है जो बहुत ही उच्च वेग से चलने वाले कणों की गति पर लागू होते हैं. बाद में 1915 में आइंस्टाइन ने आपेक्षिकता का व्यापक (general) सिद्धांत प्रस्तुत किया जिसमें गुरुत्वाकर्षण की व्याख्या की गई.

E. विश्वविज्ञान एवं अंतरिक्ष अन्वेषण (Cosmology and Space exploration): इस शाखा में विश्व की उत्पत्ति, संरचना एवं विभिन्न खगोलीय पिण्डों की गति का अध्ययन किया जाता है. अंतरिक्ष अन्वेषण में मानव निर्मित या क्रत्रिम उपग्रहों का प्रक्षेपण तथा उनसे प्राप्त सुचना का विश्लेषण व अध्ययन किया जाता है.

F. म्ध्याकार भौतिकी (Mesoscopic Physics): आजकल स्थूल (macroscopic) तथा सूक्ष्म (microscopic) प्रभाव क्षेत्रों के मध्य एक ऐसा क्षेत्र उभर कर आया है जिसमें दशक (decades) या कुछ सैकड़ों (hundreds) परमाणुओं के समूहों का अध्ययन किया जा रहा है.

भौतिकी एक मूलभूत विज्ञान है जिसके नियमों का उपयोग सभी प्रौद्योगिकियों तथा विज्ञान की अन्य सभी शाखाओं में किया जाता है. एक और जहां भौतिकी ने मानव को सभी प्रकार की भौतिक सुख-सुविधाओं से सम्पन्न किया है वहीं दूसरी और भौतिकी विश्व के अनेक रहस्यों की सफल व्याख्या करके मानव को जीवन के दार्शनिक पक्ष को समझने में भी सहायता की है.

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