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Physics (from the Greek, φύσις (phúsis), "nature" and φυσικός (phusikós), "natural"), the most fundamental physical science, is concerned with the basic principles of the Universe. Consequently, physics deals empirically with the dynamics of matter in the cosmos.
Introduction
Discoveries in physics find applications throughout the other natural sciences as they regard the fundamental constituents of the natural world. Some of the phenomena studied in physics, such as the phenomenon of conservation of energy, are common to all material systems. These are often referred to as laws of physics. Others, such as superconductivity, stem from these laws, but are not laws themselves because they only appear in some systems. Physics is often said to be the "fundamental science" (chemistry is sometimes included), because each of the other weaker sciences (biology, chemistry, geology, material science, engineering, medicine etc.) deals with particular types of material systems that obey the laws of physics. For example, chemistry is the science of matter (such as atoms and molecules) and the chemical substances that they form in the bulk. The structure, reactivity, and properties of a chemical compound are determined by the properties of the underlying molecules, which can be described by areas of physics such as quantum mechanics (called in this case quantum chemistry), thermodynamics, and electromagnetism.
Physics is closely related to mathematics, which provides the logical framework in which physical laws can be precisely formulated and their predictions quantified. Physical definitions, models and theories are invariably expressed using mathematical relations. A key difference between physics and mathematics is that because physics is ultimately concerned with descriptions of the material world, it tests its theories by observations (called experiments), whereas mathematics is concerned with abstract logical patterns not limited by those observed in the real world (because the real world is limited in the number of dimensions and in many other ways it does not have to correspond to richer mathematical structures). The distinction, however, is not always clear-cut. There is a large area of research intermediate between physics and mathematics, known as mathematical physics.
More on [ Physics ]
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Tue, 19 May 2009 00:00:00 -0500
Over the past few years, MIT engineers have successfully tested robotic devices to help stroke patients learn to control their arms and legs. Now, they're building on that work to help children with cerebral palsy.
'Bother bots' win the day
Fri, 08 May 2009 00:00:00 -0500
Each of the 150 students in the 2.007 Design and Manufacturing class had to build one or more robots from a kit of provided parts, and the bots battled it out in a series of elimination matches that concluded Thursday night before a cheering crowd.
Robots on a recycling rampage
Fri, 01 May 2009 00:00:00 -0500
More than 150 robots, in a wide variety of sizes, shapes and capabilities, will battle it out on May 6 and 7 in a contest to see which can collect the most soda cans and simulated bales of trash and return then to a recycling facility all in under a minute.
Gardening the CSAIL way
Wed, 18 Mar 2009 00:00:00 -0500
In CSAIL's indoor tomato garden, robots have supplanted humans. Could this be the future of agriculture?
Barbara Liskov wins Turing Award
Tue, 10 Mar 2009 00:00:00 -0500
Institute Professor Barbara Liskov has won the Association for Computing Machinery's A.M. Turing Award, one of the highest honors in science and engineering, for her pioneering work in the design of computer programming languages.
Lincoln Laboratory is on a 'ROLL'
Thu, 22 Jan 2009 00:00:00 -0500
In response to the growing popularity of robotics programs in high schools and elementary schools, several Lincoln Laboratory staff members have joined together to mentor students in robotics competitions.
Latest Issue of Journal of Experimental & Theoretical Artificial Intelligence
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Dovier, AgostinoFormisano, AndreaPontelli, Enrico
A model for the dynamic coordination of multiple competing goals
Martin H, Jose Antoniode Lope, Javier
Computational theories of mind, and Fodor's analysis of neural network behaviour
Guarini, Marcello
MONET - European Network of Excellence in Model Based Systems and Qualitative Reasoning (MBS QR). Publications, resources and meetings.
Qualitative Reasoning Research at UTexas - Qualitative Reasoning Research at UTexas which has one of the premier QP research centers
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