Notes

Physical science is the study of matter and energy. It includes chemistry and physics.
We depend on centuries of discoveries in physical science for just about everything we do.
Chemistry is the study of matter and energy
(Links to an external site.)
and how they interact, mainly at the level of atoms and molecules
(Links to an external site.)
. Basic concepts in chemistry include chemicals and chemical reactions.
Chemistry can help you understand the world around you. Everything you touch, taste, or smell is a chemical, and chemical reactions underlie many common changes.
Physics is the study of energy, matter, and their interactions. It is concerned with matter and energy at all levels—from the most fundamental particles
(Links to an external site.)
of matter to the entire universe
(Links to an external site.)
.
Physics can help you understand just about everything in the world around you. That’s because everything around you is matter and has energy.
Physical science includes the fields of chemistry and physics. Most careers in physical science require a minimum of 4 years of college in one of these fields.
Examples of careers in physical science include pharmacist, laboratory
(Links to an external site.)
supervisor, teacher, and surveyor.







Physical science is the study of matter and energy
(Links to an external site.)
. That covers a lot of territory because matter refers to all the “stuff” that exists in the universe
(Links to an external site.)
. It includes everything you can see and many things that you cannot see, including the air around you. Energy is also universal. It’s what gives matter the ability to move and change. Electricity, heat
(Links to an external site.)
, and light are some of the forms that energy can take.
Chemistry and Physics
Physical science, in turn, can be divided into chemistry and physics. Chemistry is the study of matter and energy
(Links to an external site.)
at the scale of atoms and molecules
(Links to an external site.)
. For example, the synthetic fibers in the swimmer’s suit were created in labs by chemists. Physics is the study of matter and energy at all scales—from the tiniest particles of matter to the entire universe
(Links to an external site.)
. Knowledge of several important physics concepts—such as motion and forces—contributed to the design of the swimmer’s suit.
Q: It’s not just athletes that depend on physical science. We all do. What might be some ways that physical science influences our lives?
A: We depend on physical science for just about everything that makes modern life possible. You couldn’t turn on a light, make a phone call, or use a computer without centuries of discoveries in chemistry and physics. The Figure below
(Links to an external site.)
show a variety of other ways that people depend on physical science. Think about how knowledge of energy
(Links to an external site.)
and matter makes each action possible.
The Statue of Liberty, pictured above, is an icon of America and freedom. The statue is made of steel and covered with a thin layer of copper, the same type of matter that pennies are made of. Copper is a brownish red metal, so why is the statue green? Chemistry, which is a branch of physical science, has the answer.
What Is Chemistry?
Chemistry is the study of matter and energy
(Links to an external site.)
and how they interact, mainly at the level of atoms and molecules
(Links to an external site.)
. Basic concepts in chemistry include chemicals, which are specific types of matter, and chemical reactions. In a chemical reaction
(Links to an external site.)
, atoms or molecules of certain types of matter combine chemically to form other types of matter. All chemical reactions involve energy.
Q: How do you think chemistry explains why the copper on the Statue of Liberty is green instead of brownish red?
The copper has become tarnished. The tarnish—also called patina—is a compound
(Links to an external site.)
called copper carbonate, which is green. Copper carbonate forms when copper undergoes a chemical reaction
(Links to an external site.)
with carbon dioxide in moist air. The green patina that forms on copper actually preserves the underlying metal. That’s why it’s not removed from the statue. Some people also think that the patina looks attractive.
Chemistry and You
Chemistry can help you understand the world around you. Everything you touch, taste, or smell is made of chemicals, and chemical reactions underlie many common changes. For example, chemistry explains how food cooks, why laundry detergent cleans your clothes, and why antacid tablets relieve an upset stomach. Other examples are illustrated in the Figure below
(Links to an external site.)
. Chemistry even explains you! Your body is made of chemicals, and chemical changes constantly take place within it
Did you ever look at your reflection
(Links to an external site.)
in a funhouse mirror? That’s what the person in this picture is doing. This type of mirror distorts your features in silly ways. Do you know how a mirror like this one works? Physics, which is a branch of physical science, can explain it.
The Scope of Physics
Physics is the study of energy
(Links to an external site.)
, matter, and their interactions. It’s a very broad field because it is concerned with matter and energy at all levels—from the most fundamental particles
(Links to an external site.)
of matter to the entire universe
(Links to an external site.)
. Some people would even argue that physics is the study of everything! Important concepts in physics include motion, forces such as magnetism and gravity, and forms of energy
(Links to an external site.)
such as light, sound, and electrical energy.
Q: How do you think physics explains the distorted images formed by a funhouse mirror?
A: Physics explains how energy
(Links to an external site.)
interacts with matter. In this case, for example, physics explains how visible light reflects from mirrors
(Links to an external site.)
to form images. Most mirrors, such as bathroom mirrors, have a flat surface. Light reflected from a flat mirror forms an image that looks the same as the object in front of it. Funhouse mirrors, like the one pictured above, are different. They have a curved surface that reflects light at different angles. This explains why the images they form are distorted.
Imagine floating in space outside the International Space Station, like the astronaut pictured here. What an exciting career! Did you ever want to become an astronaut? A good place to start is by getting a degree in physical science.
Studying Physical Science
Physical science is the study of matter and energy
(Links to an external site.)
. It includes the sciences of chemistry and physics. Most careers in physical science require a 4-year college degree in one of these fields. Some careers require more advanced education as well. For example, an astronaut might have a master’s degree or even a doctoral degree.