A Physics Digest

Over two millennia ago the Greeks founded the study of philosophy—fundamentally defined as the love or pursuit of wisdom. It is the search for underlying causes and principles of reality. That love of wisdom soon divided itself into two fields of study: (1) discerning the truth of existence as we humans perceive it (what is today’s philosophy) and (2) seeking to understand the reality of the universe, independent of human perception (i.e., not filtered through human senses). The latter branch of philosophy became known as natural philosophy: the study of natural phenomenon. Today we call it physics—the most basic of the modern sciences. (Other physical sciences: chemistry and astronomy. Life sciences: biology, botany, and zoology.)

Some 25 years ago I had the opportunity of teaching physics at the local college. Physics had been one of my stronger subjects when I was in school, so I looked forward to passing on the insights of this most basic of sciences. I love physics, but I also know that it intimidates most people. It needn’t. It scares people mostly because it’s usually taught by constantly throwing equations at students and then making them mindlessly crank out solutions, with minimal understanding of the concepts. So I made it my mission to get students excited about physics—rather than becoming frightened of it. My success was uneven, but I had fun at it for a few years.

I love physics because it is so basic. It’s the foundation of all other sciences. It’s also the most elegant science; the most graceful and simple. Now, I never used the word simple with students who considered physics to be devilishly hard, but it is simple, in the manner of being unadorned. Physics shows us the “how” of this universe—not necessarily the “why”. That’s the province of metaphysics.

To me, physics is the study of nature’s fundamental behavior—often expressed in elegant equations. I think it is beautiful and wonderful that the natural world behaves in such a straightforward, dependable, and honest manner. God doesn’t play capricious games with creation; the basic truths and beauty are constant and await anyone who puts attention to them.

I believe that as we develop an understanding of our world, we cannot have anything other than awe and a reverential attitude towards it all. The loveliness and harmony of nature are exquisitely expressed in the so-called laws of physics. Physicists do not create these laws; they are nature’s rules of conduct. They ain’t just equations; they’re sacred rules.

Over the next several posts I will attempt to provide a very brief digest of a year’s physics course. It won’t provide anyone a detailed comprehension of natural philosophy, but it will touch most of the bases of what the study of physics encompasses: the basic structure of this divine creation.