Molecular physics


The details of molecular physics are typically not discussed at an elementary level. This page is likely to be reorganized as progress develops. Areas of interest include molecular interactions, molecular structure, and chemical bonding.	Sapience Home Site Map About Sapience Science Physics Structure of matter

The details of molecular physics are typically not discussed at an elementary level. This page is likely to be reorganized as progress develops. Areas of interest include molecular interactions, molecular structure, and chemical bonding.

Chemical bonding

Chemical bonding includes general types of metallic, covalent, and ionic. Areas of interest include types of molecules and the types of chemical bonds between atoms.

Molecular structure

This includes distinctions between large and small molecules, three-dimensional structure and isomerism; it also includes molecular ions.

Molecular interaction

This includes interactions and forces between molecules, and also interactions with subatomic particles and radiation.


The history of molecular physics is entirely modern; the subject did not exist in earlier times. Its future is unpredictable. The application of personal studies, anthropology, culture, institutions, and sociology to molecular physics will be considered in more detail as the site develops.	Links to other sites: Not yet available
The sciences of biology, earth science, and astronomy provide some examples of molecules and illustrations of principles. This area overlaps quite heavily with chemistry. Chemistry deals more with specific cases, while this area deals more with general principles. Illustrations of some of these principles can be found in bulk matter. For the most part this depends on atomic physics, and less on nuclear physics than on atomic electrons. Subatomic physics is not directly useful. Quantum mechanics is by far the most heavily used.Relativity is used little. Molecular physics depends quite heavily on electromagnetism, including electrostatics and concepts of electric charge, distribution, electric force, field, flux, potential, capacitance, and electrical properties of matter, electric current, magnetism, and optics. It also depends significantly on thermodynamics at advanced levels. Statistical mechanics, classical thermodynamics, and nonclassical thermodynamics will be useful. Molecular physics depends somewhat on mechanics. Particle mechanics including kinematics, kinetics, energetics, and particle systems is useful when molecules or their parts can be treated as particles. Particle description is useful when molecules or their parts can be treated as particles. Rigid body mechanics, which is useful for the description of extended bodies and motion, rotational dynamics, static systems and dynamic systems is more generally useful. Nonrigid mechanics including deformable bodies, fluid mechanics, and acoustics is also useful. Gravitation and celestial mechanics are scarcely used.

The history of molecular physics is entirely modern; the subject did not exist in earlier times. Its future is unpredictable.

The application of personal studies, anthropology, culture, institutions, and sociology to molecular physics will be considered in more detail as the site develops.

Links to other sites: Not yet available

The sciences of biology, earth science, and astronomy provide some examples of molecules and illustrations of principles. This area overlaps quite heavily with chemistry. Chemistry deals more with specific cases, while this area deals more with general principles.

Illustrations of some of these principles can be found in bulk matter. For the most part this depends on atomic physics, and less on nuclear physics than on atomic electrons. Subatomic physics is not directly useful.

Quantum mechanics is by far the most heavily used.Relativity is used little. Molecular physics depends quite heavily on electromagnetism, including electrostatics and concepts of electric charge, distribution, electric force, field, flux, potential, capacitance, and electrical properties of matter, electric current, magnetism, and optics.

It also depends significantly on thermodynamics at advanced levels. Statistical mechanics, classical thermodynamics, and nonclassical thermodynamics will be useful.

Molecular physics depends somewhat on mechanics. Particle mechanics including kinematics, kinetics, energetics, and particle systems is useful when molecules or their parts can be treated as particles. Particle description is useful when molecules or their parts can be treated as particles. Rigid body mechanics, which is useful for the description of extended bodies and motion, rotational dynamics, static systems and dynamic systems is more generally useful. Nonrigid mechanics including deformable bodies, fluid mechanics, and acoustics is also useful. Gravitation and celestial mechanics are scarcely used.