Physics (from Ancient Greek: f?s??? (?p?st??) phusik? (epist?

me) knowledge of natu

re , from f?s?? phsis "nature"[1][2][3]) is the natural science that involves the s
tudy of matter[4] and its motion through space and time, along with related conc
epts such as energy and force.[5] More broadly, it is the general analysis of na
ture, conducted in order to understand how the universe behaves.[a][6][7]
Physics is one of the oldest academic disciplines, perhaps the oldest through it
s inclusion of astronomy.[8] Over the last two millennia, physics was a part of
natural philosophy along with chemistry, certain branches of mathematics, and bi
ology, but during the Scientific Revolution in the 17th century, the natural sci
ences emerged as unique research programs in their own right.[b] Physics interse
cts with many interdisciplinary areas of research, such as biophysics and quantu
m chemistry, and the boundaries of physics are not rigidly defined. New ideas in
physics often explain the fundamental mechanisms of other sciences[6] while ope
ning new avenues of research in areas such as mathematics and philosophy.
Physics also makes significant contributions through advances in new technologie
s that arise from theoretical breakthroughs. For example, advances in the unders
tanding of electromagnetism or nuclear physics led directly to the development o
f new products that have dramatically transformed modern-day society, such as te
levision, computers, domestic appliances, and nuclear weapons;[6] advances in th
ermodynamics led to the development of industrializati