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The prehistory of physics is almost untraceable. Litte is known of its development in antiquity. Recognizable development occurred in classical and medieval times, but the greatest development by far has come in modern times. |
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The divisions of mechanics, thermodynamics, electromagnetism, relativity, quantum mechanics, and the structure of matter will each have their own histories.
The prehistory of physics is untraceable so far. Early prehistory including the Pliocene, early Pleistocene, early mid Pleistocene, late mid Pleistocene, and late Pleistocene can be connected. Middle prehistory including the 5th decamillennium BP, 4th decamillennium BP, 3rd decamillennium BP, and 2nd decamillennium BP can be connected. Late prehistory including the early 8th millennium BC, late 8th millennium BC, early 7th millennium BC, early 6th millennium BC, and late 6th millennium BC can be connected.
The 5th millennium BC including the early 5th millennium BC, early mid 5th millennium BC, mid 5th millennium BC, late mid 5th millennium BC, and late 5th millennium BC can be connected. The 4th millennium BC including the early 4th millennium BC, early mid 4th millennium BC, mid 4th millennium BC, late mid 4th millennium BC, and late 4th millennium BC can be connected. The 3rd Millennium BC including the early 3rd millennium BC, early mid 3rd millennium BC, mid 3rd millennium BC, late mid 3rd millennium BC, and late 3rd millennium BC can be connected. The 2nd millennium BC including the early 2nd millennium BC, early mid 2nd millennium BC, mid 2nd millennium BC, late mid 2nd millennium BC, and late 2nd millennium BC can be connected. The early first millennium BC including the 10th century BC, 9th century BC, 8th century BC, 7th century BC, and 6th century BC can be connected.
In early classical times, Aristotle and Archimedes were among the first to write on what is now mechanics. In late classical times including the 1st century CE, 2nd century CE, 3rd century CE, 4th century CE, and 5th century CE little progress was made in physics. There was also little progress in early medieval times including the 6th century, 7th century, 8th century, 9th century, and 10th century. There was also little progress in late medieval times including the 11th century, 12th century, 13th century, 14th century, and 15th century.
The divisions of mechanics, thermodynamics, electromagnetism, relativity, quantum mechanics, and the structure of matter will each have their own histories.
The first significant advance in mechanics since antiquity, treatment of non-parallel forces in connection with levers was made. Early explorations of magnetism began. I do not yet have details of the early 16th century, early-mid 16th century, mid 16th century, late-mid 16th century, or late 16th century.
Galileo began to apply mathematical and experimental methods to the study of motion, and demonstrated that Aristotle's ideas were incorrect. Later, Newton developed mathematical methods known as the calculus and used these in exploring his three laws of motion and his law of universal gravitation. These were and still are enormously successful in describing natural phenomena. He also made important discoveries regarding the behavior of light. I do not yet have details for the early 17th century, early mid 17th century, mid 17th century, or late mid 17th century. The late 17th century including the early 1680s, late 1680s early 1690s, and late 1690s can be connected.
Experimental methods were refined and developed. Mathematical methods were applied to extended and non-rigid bodies and fluids and to problems of gravitation. Electric phenomena and magnetism were also studied. Thermometers allowed measurements of heat. In the early 18th century, there was a bitter dispute between Newton and Liebniz over priority in invention of calculus, and Newton published his work on optics. The early 1700s, late 1700s early 1710s, and late 1710s can be connected. I do not yet have details for the early mid 18th century including the early 1720s, late 1720s, early 1730s, or late 1730s. In the mid 18th century, Franklin was noted for his work on static electricity, especially connecting it with lightning. The early 1740s, late 1740s, early 1750s, and late 1750s can be connected. I do not yet have details for the late mid 18th century including the early 1760s, late 1760s, early 1770s, or late 1770s, or the late 18th century including the early 1780s, late 1780s, early 1790s, or late 1790s.
Physics became professionalized as increasingly expensive experimental apparatus, mathematical training, and institutional support became necessary to make new discoveries. In the early 19th century, Dalton (1803-1810) proposed his atomic theory of chemistry, which was slow to win full acceptance among physicists for another century. In the early-mid 19th century, Faraday (1821-1840) began work on electricity, magnetism, and electrochemistry. In the mid-19th century, Faraday continued work on electricity and magnetism, (1841-1859) while early studies in heat and thermodynamics were being done. In the late-mid 19th century, Maxwell (1870-1873) published works on electromagnetic theory which made it mathematically exact and predicted the existence of electromagnetic radiation, thus paving the way for a unification of electricity and magnetism with optics. He and other scientists also worked out mathematical laws of classical thermodynamics. In the late 19th century, the existence of electromagnetic waves was verified. Theoretical physicists had nearly worked out a mechanical theory of the transmission of light which new discoveries quickly showed to be untenable. The discoveries of X-rays, radioactivity, and the appearance of lines in the spectrum of light from various sources posed inexplicable mysteries. Also, the theory of radiation required Planck to introduced the quantum concept.
New areas of physics developed, and physics became increasingly mathematical and difficult for the layman to use and comprehend. In the early 20th century, particularly 1905, Einstein published four papers which revolutionized physics, among other things proposing his special theory of relativity, and demonstrating an application of quantum theory. Rutherford was prominent in the investigation of radioactivity and nuclear structure. The early 1900s, late 1900s, early 1910s, and late 1910s can be connected. In the early-mid 20th century, mechanics developed slowly, and electromagnetism and thermodynamics developed a little. Relativity remained mostly controversial, but quantum theory developed substantially. Only the rudiments of subatomic physics were investigated, but there was substantial insight into the nucleus as Rutherford continued his work, and into the electronic structure of the atom, as Heisenberg developed a matrix formulation for quantum mechanics and proposed his uncertainty principle. the early 1920s, late 1920s, early 1930s, and late 1930s can be connected. In the mid 20th century, mechanics developed somewhat, and electromagnetic theory was increasingly understood. Thermodynamics also developed a little. Relativity theory advanced, and quantum theory advanced considerably. Investigations into subatomic and atomic physics resulted in the development of nuclear weaponry. Fermi was prominent in these developments. Other studies in the structure of bulk matter also occurred. The early 1940s, late 1940s, early 1950s, and late 1950s can be connected. In the late-mid 20th century, there was progress in advanced areas of mechanics, optics, nonclassical thermodynamics, in relativity theory and quantum theory. The structure of matter at the subatomic level was increasingly understood and there was progress in understanding the atomic, molecular, and bulk matter levels. The early 1960s, late 1960s, early 1970s, and late 1970s can be connected.
There have been advances in relativity theory, quantum mechanics, optics, nonclassical thermodynamics, and in subatomic and atomic physics.
The early 1980s including 1981, 1982, 1982, 1984, and 1985 can be connected. The late 1980s including 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, and 1990 can be connected. The early 1990s including 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, and 1995 can be connected. The late 1990s including 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, and 2000 can be connected.
The early 2000s including 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, and 2005 can be connected.
The late 2000s, including 2006 can be connected. 2007 including the first quarter 2007, second quarter 2007, third quarter 2007, and fourth quarter 2007 can be connected. Developments of 2008 including the first quarter 2008, second quarter 2008, third quarter 2008 with July, August, and September and the fourth quarter 2008including October and November can be considered. 2009 including the first quarter 2009, second quarter 2009, third quarter 2009, and fourth quarter 2009 can be connected. 2010 including the first quarter 2010, second quarter 2010, third quarter 2010, and fourth quarter 2010 can be connected.
The early 2010s can be connected. 2011 can be connected. The first quarter 2011 can be connected. January 2011 including 2011 week 1, 2011 week 2, 2011 week 3, 2011 week 4, 2011 week 5, and 2011 week 6 can be connected. February 2011 and March 2011 can be connected. The second quarter 2011 including April 2011, May 2011, and June 2011 can be considered.
The near future including next month, next quarter, and next year might be connected. The middle future including the next 5 years, next 20 years, next century, and beyond the next century can be connected. The far future including the next 2 millennia, next 10,000 years, next 50,000 years, next 200,000 years, next million years, and beyond the next million years