Physics is one of the most ancient sciences about nature. The word “physics” takes its origin from the Greek word “phewsis” meaning nature.

What is Physics?

Physics is one of the most ancient sciences about nature. The word “physics” takes its origin from the Greek word “phewsis” meaning nature.

Physics studies various phenomena in nature: mechanical motion, heat, sound, electricity, magnetism and light.

Physics is one of the main sciences about nature. The development of other sciences depends in many respects on the knowledge of physical phenomena.

Physics divides itself very naturally into two great branches, experimental physics and theoretical physics. The former is the science of making observations and devising experiments which give us accurate knowledge of the actual behaviour of natural phenomena. On the basis of experimental facts theoretical physics formulates laws and predicts the behaviour of natural phenomena. Every physical law is based on experiments and is devised to correlate and to describe accurately these experiments. The wider the range of experience covered by such a law, the more important it is. Physics is divided into half a dozen or more different fields – mechanics, sound, heat, electricity and magnetism, light, molecular, atomic and nuclear physics. These different fields are not distinct but merge into each other.

In all cases physics deals primarily with phenomena that can be accurately described in terms of matter and energy. Hence, the basic concepts in all physical phenomena are the concepts of matter and energy. Therefore, it is important to determine accurately the characteristics of both matter and energy, the laws that govern their transformations, and the fundamental relations between them.

Vocabulary

nature, to take origin, phenomenon (pl. -a), development, branch, observation, to devise an experiment, accurate, behaviour, to formulate laws, to predict, to be devised, to correlate, distinct, to merge, basic concept, matter, energy, to govern, transformation, mechanical, motion, nuclear

1. Find Russian equivalents to English words and expressions.

1) ancient 2) various phenomena 3) sound 4) in many respects 5) a branch 6) to devise 7) to predict 8) to correlate 9) nuclear physics 10) to merge into 11) matter 12) transformation

a) материя b) разрабатывать c) древний d) устанавливать соотношение e) преобразование f) звук g) сливаться, объединяться h) различные явления i) отрасль j) во многих отношениях k) предсказывать l) ядерная физика

2. Find English equivalents to Russian words and expressions.

1) управлять 2) основываться на чем-л. 3) происходить от 4) с позиций чего-л. 5) тепло 6) производить наблюдение 7) определять 8) разделять 9) опыт 10) зависеть от 11) отдельный, определенный 12) точные знания

a) to take origin from b) heat c) to depend on d) to divide e) to make observation f) accurate knowledge g) to based on h) experience i) distinct j) in terms of smth k) to govern l) to determine

4. Find the synonyms to the following words in the text.

to come from, very old, movement, invent (think out),

exactly, prognosticate, separate, unite, control,

5. Replace the Russian words in the brackets with their English equivalents.

1. The development of other sciences depends (во многих отношениях) on the knowledge of physical phenomena.

2. Physics deals with phenomena that can be (точно) described (с позиций) of matter and energy.

3. The word “physics” (происходит) from the Greek word “phewsis” meaning nature.

4. Theoretical physics (формулирует) laws and (предсказывает) the behaviour of natural phenomena.

5. Experimental physics is the science of making (наблюдения) and devising experiments.

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