http://www.ck12.org Chapter 1. Introduction to Physical Science
1.8 Scope of Physical Science
- Define physical science.
- Define chemistry and physics.
- Discuss ways people depend on physical science.
Unless you’re a competitive swimmer like the athletes in the picture, you probably don’t wear a full-body swimsuit.
The swimsuit was designed to help a swimmer glide smoothly through the water without restricting body movements.
The suit is made of two synthetic fibers: nylon, which is very smooth, lightweight, and durable; and spandex, which
is very stretchy. This is just one example of the many ways that sports gear, equipment, and performance have been
improved by physical science.
What Is Physical Science?
Physical scienceis the study of matter and energy. That covers a lot of territory because matter refers to all the
“stuff” that exists in the universe. 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,
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 at
the scale of atoms and molecules. 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