PHYSICAL SCIENCES

Humbat Jafarov (ID: 5172)
ENG 82B
Written Communication
Dr. Sylvia Y. Schoemaker Rippel
December 2, 2008

Physical Science

According to Wikipedia, physical science is an encompassing term for the branches of natural science and science that study non-living systems, in contrast to the biological sciences. However, the term “physical” creates an unintended, somewhat arbitrary distinction, since many branches of physical science also study biological phenomena. The branches of physical science include astronomy, chemistry, earth science, and physics.
Astronomy is the science of celestial bodies and their interactions in space. Its studies include the following:
Chemistry is the science of matter mainly at the micro-level. Chemistry can be called “the central science” because it connects the other natural sciences, such as astronomy, physics, material science, biology, and geology.
Earth science is the science of the planet Earth, the only known life-bearing planet.
Physics is the “fundamental science” because the other natural sciences (biology, chemistry, geology, etc.) deal with systems that obey the laws of physics. The physical laws of matter, energy, and the forces of nature govern the interactions between particles (such as molecules, atoms, or subatomic particles).