Physics is the factual science that studies the ultimate truths of the order of nature. Being the subject so extensive, Physics comprises a series of central theories that assume different more limited areas: first of all, we have classical mechanics, which deals with the study of bodies on a macroscopic scale, as well as movements at speeds lower than that of light; The theory of relativity, which is devoted to the study of space and time in relative terms; thermodynamics, which is based on the study of heat as a form of energy; electromagnetism, which studies particles charged with electricity and magnetism; kinetics that study bodies in motion; and finally, quantum mechanics, which studies both atomic and subatomic systems, as well as electromagnetic radiation.
Physics is then the science that studies bodies, whatever their state (liquid, gas or solid) in relation to other bodies and the processes that can occur in it (movements, deformations, applications of force, among others). Physics, like mathematics, is an exact science, since a single result will be expected before an operation performed. There cannot be more than one result for a physical operation. For this reason, physics uses inductive methods, inasmuch as such operations will be reflected in such a result (in that result and not in another).
The first reflections related to what today is called physics must be sought in antiquity. Already in the first years of our era, Ptolemy wrote an astronomical treatise called Almogesto in which he states that the earth is the center of the universe and the stars revolve around it. Beyond the short-sightedness that can be assigned to it, the truth is that had an important influence for a time, until Copernicus published his heliocentric theory, later validated by the experiences of Galileo Galilei. To these contributions should be added those of Kepler and Brahe on the movement of the planets. Nevertheless it was Newton who established laws of extraordinary importance in his work Philosophiae Naturalis Principia Mathematics. The subsequent moments of importance occurred in the 18th century with the formulation of thermodynamics, in the 19th century with electromagnetism and, finally, in the 20th century, with the theory of relativity introduced by Albert Einstein and with the quantum theory developed both for this and for Planck and Bohr.
Physics is used in other areas such as automotive mechanics, electromechanics, the industry that produces household appliances, different engineering (nuclear, agronomic, food technology, electronics, among others). Of course, in these areas of study the theories are much more specific than those basic physics contents that we had in high school.
The current challenge of physics is to develop a theory that integrates all the aforementioned. At the moment many expectations have been created around superstring theory, although there is still a long way to go for it to be accepted by the scientific community as a unifying theory.
Physics is one of the disciplines that each year holds a Nobel Prize, and in this sense, the winner is the one (or those) scientific researchers who innovate with their discoveries or theories at the forefront of the discipline. These discoveries or developments suppose the improvement of a specific area or an advance that will allow the optimization of industrial or production processes.
