There are no exact differences between physics and other natural sciences because all sciences overlap(重叠）.In general,however,physics is the scientific study of forces and qualities such as heat,light,sound,pressure,gravity and electricity,and the ways they affect other objects.
One major branch of physics deals with the states of matter—solids,liquids and gases and with their motions.The pioneer achievements of Galileo,Kepler and Newton dealt with solid masses of matter in motion.Such studies deal with forces acting on moving objects.It is the subject of mechanics and belongs to the branch of mechanics called dynamics,the study of matter in motion.This large topic includes not only the motions of stars and ping-pong balls but also the motions of the water pumped by a fire engine and those of the air passing through the jet engine of an airplane.
A branch of mechanics is statics(静力学）,the study of matter at rest.The designs of buildings and bridges are examples of problems in statics.Other branches of physics are based on the different kinds of energy,which interact with matter.They deal with electricity and magnetism（磁力）,heat,light,and sound.From these branches of physics scientists find clues(线索） which have revealed(揭示） the constructions of atoms and how the atoms react to various kinds of energy. This knowledge is often called the basis of modern physics.Among the many subdivisions（细的分支）of modern physics are electronics and nuclear physics.Physics is closely related to engineering.A person who uses knowledge of physics in solving everyday problems is often called an engineer.For example,electricity is one of the branches of physics;and an electrical engineer is a man who uses the “natural laws” of electricity to help in designing and electric generator(电动机）.
小题1:Physics is not exactly different from other natural sciences because_________.
A．physics and other natural sciences have parts in common
B．it is the scientific study of forces and qualities such as heat,light and sound
C．it studies the ways in which forces and qualities affect other objects
D．it is a part of other natural sciences小题2:The following statements are included in the study of dynamics except_________.
A．the design and construction of skyscrapers
B．the motions of heavenly bodies
C．the motions of water pumped by a fire engine
D．the motions of the air passing through the jet engine of an airplane小题3:Among many branches of modern physics is _________.
A．states
B．electricity
C．electronics
D．mechanics小题4:This knowledge” in Paragraph Three refers to_________.
A．electricity and magnetism,light and sound
B．the construction of atoms and their reactions to various kinds of energy
C．the basis of modern physics
D．electronics and nuclear physics
