Editing Outline of physics (section)

== General concepts ==

=== Basic principles ===
Physics &ndash; branch of science that studies [[matter]]<ref name="feynmanleightonsands1963-atomic">At the start of ''[[The Feynman Lectures on Physics]]'', [[Richard Feynman]] offers the [[Atomic theory|atomic hypothesis]] as the single most prolific scientific concept: "If, in some cataclysm, all [] scientific knowledge were to be destroyed [save] one sentence&nbsp;[...] what statement would contain the most information in the fewest words? I believe it is&nbsp;[...] that ''all things are made up of atoms&nbsp;– little particles that move around in perpetual motion, attracting each other when they are a little distance apart, but repelling upon being squeezed into one another''&nbsp;..." {{harv|Feynman|Leighton|Sands|1963|p=I-2}}</ref> and its [[Motion (physics)|motion]] through [[Spacetime|space and time]], along with related concepts such as [[energy]] and [[force]].<!--
   --><ref name="maxwell1878-physicalscience">"Physical science is that department of knowledge which relates to the order of nature, or, in other words, to the regular succession of events." {{harv|Maxwell|1878|p=9}}</ref> <!--
           -->  Physics is one of the "[[fundamental science]]s" because the other natural sciences (like biology, geology  etc.) deal with systems that seem to obey the laws of physics. According to physics, the physical laws of matter, energy and the fundamental forces of nature govern the interactions between particles and physical entities (such as planets, molecules, atoms or the subatomic particles). Some of the basic pursuits of physics, which include some of the most prominent developments in modern science in the last millennium, include:
* Describing the nature, measuring and quantifying of bodies and their motion, dynamics etc.
** [[Newton's laws of motion]]
** [[Mass]], [[force]] and [[weight]] ([[mass versus weight]])
** [[Momentum]] and [[conservation of energy]]
** [[Gravity]], theories of gravity
** [[Energy]], [[Work (physics)|work]], and [[Work (physics)#Work and energy|their relationship]]
** [[Motion (physics)|Motion]], [[Position (vector)|position]], and [[energy]]
** Different [[Forms of energy|forms of Energy]], their inter-conversion and the inevitable loss of energy in the form of heat ([[thermodynamics]])
** [[Conservation of energy|Energy conservation]], [[energy conversion|conversion]], and transfer.
** [[Energy source]] the transfer of energy from one source to work in another.
* [[Kinetic theory of gases|Kinetic molecular theory]]
** [[Phase (matter)|Phases of matter]] and [[phase transition]]s
** [[Temperature]] and [[thermometer]]s
** [[Energy]] and [[heat]]
** [[Heat transfer|Heat flow]]: [[Heat conduction|conduction]], [[convection]], and [[thermal radiation|radiation]]
** The four [[laws of thermodynamics]]
* The principles of [[wave]]s and [[sound]]
* The principles of [[electricity]], [[magnetism]], and [[electromagnetism]]
* The principles, sources, and properties of [[light]]
* Basic quantities
** [[Acceleration]]
** [[Electric charge]]
** [[Energy]]
** [[Entropy]]
** [[Force (physics)|Force]]
** [[Length]]
** [[Mass]]
** [[Matter]]
** [[Momentum]]
** [[Potential energy]]
** [[Space]]
** [[Temperature]]
** [[Time]]
** [[Velocity]]
[[Gravity]], [[light]], [[physical system]], [[physical observation]], [[physical quantity]], [[State of matter|physical state]], [[physical unit]], [[physical theory]], [[physical experiment]]

Theoretical concepts: [[mass–energy equivalence]], [[elementary particle]], [[physical law]], [[fundamental force]], [[physical constant]]

=== Fundamental concepts ===
* [[Causality (physics)|Causality]]
* [[symmetry (physics)|Symmetry]]
* [[Action (physics)|Action]]
* [[Principle of covariance|Covariance]]
* [[Space]]
* [[Time]]
* [[Oscillation]]s and [[Wave]]s
* [[Physical field]]
* [[Physical interaction]]
* [[Statistical ensemble]]
* [[Quantum]]
* [[Particle]]

=== Measurement ===
* [[Measurement]]
* [[SI units]]
* [[Conversion of units]]
* [[Length]]
* [[Time]]
* [[Mass]]
* [[Density]]

=== Motion ===
* [[Motion]]
* [[Velocity]]
* [[Speed]]
* [[Acceleration]]
* [[Constant acceleration]]
* [[Newton's laws of motion]]

=== Overview ===

This is a list of the primary theories in physics, major subtopics, and concepts.
: ''Note: the ''Theory'' column below contains links to articles with infoboxes at the top of their respective pages which list the major concepts.''
{|class="wikitable"
!Theory || Major subtopics || Concepts
|-
|[[Classical mechanics]]
|[[Newton's laws of motion]], [[Lagrangian mechanics]], [[Hamiltonian mechanics]], [[kinematics]], [[statics]], [[Dynamics (mechanics)|dynamics]], [[chaos theory]], [[acoustics]], [[fluid dynamics]], [[continuum mechanics]]
|[[Density]], [[dimension]], [[Law of universal gravitation|gravity]], [[space]], [[time]], [[Motion (physics)|motion]], [[length]], [[Position (geometry)|position]], [[velocity]], [[acceleration]], [[mass]], [[momentum]], [[Force (physics)|force]], [[energy]], [[angular momentum]], [[torque]], [[Conservation law (physics)|conservation law]], [[harmonic oscillator]], [[wave]], [[Mechanical work|work]], [[Power (physics)|power]]
|-
|[[Electromagnetism]]
|[[Electrostatics]], [[electrodynamics]], [[electricity]], [[magnetism]], [[Maxwell's equations]], [[optics]]
|[[Capacitance]], [[electric charge]], [[electric current]], [[electrical conductivity]], [[electric field]], [[Permittivity|electric permittivity]], [[electrical resistance]], [[electromagnetic field]], [[electromagnetic induction]], [[electromagnetic radiation]], [[Gaussian surface]], [[magnetic field]], [[magnetic flux]], [[magnetic monopole]], [[magnetic permeability]]
|-
|[[Theory of relativity]]
|[[Special relativity]], [[general relativity]], [[Einstein field equations]]
|[[Lorentz covariance|Covariance]], [[Einstein manifold]], [[equivalence principle]], [[four-momentum]], [[four-vector]], [[general principle of relativity]], [[Geodesic (general relativity)|geodesic motion]], [[gravity]], [[gravitoelectromagnetism]], [[inertial frame of reference]], [[Invariant (physics)|invariance]], [[length contraction]], [[Lorentzian manifold]], [[Lorentz transformation]], [[Metric (general relativity)|metric]], [[Minkowski diagram]], [[Minkowski space]], [[principle of relativity]], [[proper length]], [[proper time]], [[Frame of reference|reference frame]], [[rest energy]], [[rest mass]], [[relativity of simultaneity]], [[spacetime]], [[special principle of relativity]], [[speed of light]], [[stress–energy tensor]], [[time dilation]], [[twin paradox]], [[world line]]
|-
|[[Thermodynamics]] and [[statistical mechanics]]
|[[Heat engine]], [[kinetic theory of gases|kinetic theory]]
|[[Boltzmann constant]], [[Conjugate variables (thermodynamics)|conjugate variables]], [[enthalpy]], [[entropy]], [[equation of state]], [[equipartition theorem]], [[first law of thermodynamics]], [[Thermodynamic free energy|free energy]], [[heat]], [[ideal gas law]], [[internal energy]], [[Non-equilibrium thermodynamics|irreversible process]], [[Partition function (statistical mechanics)|partition function]], [[pressure]], [[Reversible process (thermodynamics)|reversible process]], [[second law of thermodynamics]], [[spontaneous process]], [[state function]], [[Statistical ensemble (mathematical physics)|statistical ensemble]], [[temperature]], [[thermodynamic equilibrium]], [[thermodynamic potential]], [[thermodynamic processes]], [[thermodynamic state]], [[System (thermodynamics)|thermodynamic system]], [[third law of thermodynamics]], [[viscosity]], [[zeroth law of thermodynamics]]
|-
|[[Quantum mechanics]]
|[[Path integral formulation]], [[scattering theory]], [[Schrödinger equation]], [[quantum field theory]], [[quantum statistical mechanics]]
|[[Born–Oppenheimer approximation|Adiabatic approximation]], [[correspondence principle]], [[free particle]], [[Hamiltonian (quantum mechanics)|Hamiltonian]], [[Hilbert space]], [[identical particles]], [[matrix mechanics]], [[Planck constant]], [[Operator (mathematics)|operators]], [[Quantum|quanta]], [[Quantization (physics)|quantization]], [[quantum entanglement]], [[quantum harmonic oscillator]], [[quantum number]], [[quantum tunneling]], [[Schrödinger's cat]], [[Dirac equation]], [[Spin (physics)|spin]], [[wavefunction]], [[Schrödinger equation#Particles as waves|wave mechanics]], [[wave–particle duality]], [[zero-point energy]], [[Pauli exclusion principle]], [[Heisenberg uncertainty principle]]
|}

=== Concepts by field ===

{|class="wikitable"
!Field || Subfields || Major theories || Concepts
|-
|[[Particle physics]]
|[[Accelerator physics]], [[nuclear physics]], [[nuclear astrophysics]], [[particle astrophysics]], [[particle physics phenomenology]]
|[[Standard Model]], [[quantum field theory]], [[quantum chromodynamics]], [[Electroweak interaction|electroweak theory]], [[effective field theory]], [[lattice field theory]], [[lattice gauge theory]], [[gauge theory]], [[supersymmetry]], [[Grand Unified Theory]], [[superstring theory]], [[M-theory]]
|[[Fundamental force]] ([[gravity|gravitational]], [[electromagnetism|electromagnetic]], [[weak interaction|weak]], [[strong interaction|strong]]), [[elementary particle]], [[Spin (physics)|spin]], [[antimatter]], [[spontaneous symmetry breaking]], [[Membrane (M-theory)|brane]], [[String (physics)|string]], [[quantum gravity]], [[theory of everything]], [[vacuum energy]]
|-
|[[Atomic, molecular, and optical physics]]
|[[Atomic physics]], [[molecular physics]], [[atomic and molecular astrophysics]], [[chemical physics]], [[optics]], [[photonics]]
|[[Quantum optics]], [[quantum chemistry]], [[quantum information science]]
|[[Atom]], [[molecule]], [[diffraction]], [[electromagnetic radiation]], [[laser]], [[Polarization (waves)|polarization]], [[spectral line]], [[Casimir effect]]
|-
|[[Condensed matter physics]]
|[[Solid state physics]], [[high pressure physics]], [[Cryogenics|low-temperature physics]], [[Nanotechnology|nanoscale and mesoscopic physics]], [[polymer physics]]
|[[BCS theory]], [[Bloch's theorem]], [[Fermi gas]], [[Fermi liquid]], [[many-body theory]]
|[[Phase (matter)|Phases]] ([[gas]], [[liquid]], [[solid]], [[Bose–Einstein condensate]], [[superconductivity|superconductor]], [[superfluid]]), [[electrical conduction]], [[magnetism]], [[self-organization]], [[Spin (physics)|spin]], [[spontaneous symmetry breaking]]
|-
|[[Astrophysics]]
|[[Physical cosmology|Cosmology]], [[Gravitation|gravitation physics]], [[High-energy astronomy|high-energy astrophysics]], [[Planetary science|planetary astrophysics]], [[Plasma (physics)|plasma physics]], [[space physics]], [[Astronomy#Stellar astronomy|stellar astrophysics]]
|[[Big Bang]], [[Lambda-CDM model]], [[cosmic inflation]], [[general relativity]], [[law of universal gravitation]]
|[[Black hole]], [[cosmic background radiation]], [[cosmic string]], [[cosmos]], [[dark energy]], [[dark matter]], [[galaxy]], [[gravity]], [[gravitational radiation]], [[gravitational singularity]], [[planet]], [[Solar System]], [[star]], [[supernova]], [[universe]], [[nova]]
|}