Editing Outline of physical science (section)

== Definition ==

Physical science can be described as all of the following:
* A branch of [[outline of science|science]]  (a systematic enterprise that builds and organizes [[Outline of knowledge|knowledge]] in the form of testable explanations and predictions about the [[universe]]).<ref name=wilson>{{cite book |last1 = Wilson |first1 = Edward O. |title = Consilience: The Unity of Knowledge |edition = 1st |publisher = Vintage Books |location = New York, NY |year = 1998 |isbn = 0-679-45077-7 |pages = [https://archive.org/details/consilienceunity00wils/page/49 49–71] |url-access = registration |url = https://archive.org/details/consilienceunity00wils/page/49 }}</ref><ref name=Heilbron>"...&nbsp;modern science is a discovery as well as an invention. It was a discovery that nature generally acts regularly enough to be described by laws and even by [[mathematics]]; and required invention to devise the techniques, abstractions, apparatus, and organization for exhibiting the regularities and securing their law-like descriptions."&nbsp;—p.vii, [[J. L. Heilbron]], (2003, editor-in-chief). ''The Oxford Companion to the History of Modern Science''. New York: Oxford University Press. {{ISBN|0-19-511229-6}}.</ref><ref>{{cite encyclopedia |encyclopedia=Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary |title=science |url=http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/science |access-date=2011-10-16 |publisher=[[Merriam-Webster]], Inc |quote='''3 a:''' knowledge or a system of knowledge covering general truths or the operation of general laws especially as obtained and tested through scientific method '''b:''' such knowledge or such a system of knowledge concerned with the physical world and its phenomena }}<!--{{sfn|Popper|2002|p=3}}--></ref>
* A branch of [[Outline of natural science|natural science]] – natural science is a major branch of [[science]] that tries to explain and predict nature's phenomena, based on [[empirical evidence]]. In natural science, [[Hypothesis|hypotheses]] must be verified scientifically to be regarded as scientific theory.  Validity, accuracy, and social mechanisms ensuring quality control, such as peer review and repeatability of findings, are amongst the criteria and methods used for this purpose. Natural science can be broken into two main branches: [[life science]] (for example biology) and physical science. Each of these branches, and all of their sub-branches, are referred to as natural sciences.
* A branch of [[applied science]] - the application of the [[scientific method]] and scientific knowledge to attain practical goals. It includes a broad range of disciplines, such as [[engineering]] and [[medicine]]., although medicine would not normally be considered a physical science. Applied science is often contrasted with [[basic science]], which is focused on advancing scientific theories and laws that explain and predict natural or other phenomena.