Physical changes

Physical changes are the most easily observed of chemical changes. They include separation and mixing, as well as state changes of melting and freezing, boiling and condensation, and sublimation.

  

Melting and freezing

Boiling and condensation

Sublimation

Mixing

Separation


Physical changes depends heavily on physics. Mechanics is highly useful. Particle mechanics including particle description, kinematics, kinetics, energetics, and particle systems seems to be minimally useful. Rigid body mechanics, and nonrigid mechanics may be better connected. Gravitation is less directly significant. Thermodynamics including statistical mechanics, classical thermodynamics, and nonclassical thermodynamics is essential to these studies.Electromagnetism including elecrostatics, electric current, magnetism, and optics is also useful. Relativity, and quantum mechanics are less directly useful. The structure of matter including subatomic physics, atomic physics, molecular physics, bulk matter physics, and exotic matter physics is also important.

 

Substances are important in physical change. elements can be examined using the periodic table and various classifications. Compounds will also be important. Physical changes typically involve the formation or separation of mixtures, either heterogenous mixtures or solutions. Nuclear reactions and chemical reactions will also be significant. Chemical systems including inorganic and organic chemistry may also be useful.

Connections to astronomy, earth science, and biology will also be considered as the site expands.

The personal studies, anthropology, culture, institutions, sociology, and history related to physical changes will be considered in more detail as the site expands


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© 2004-2008 Thad Coons
Created 16 Mar 2004, Updated 20 Feb 2008