Physics
The study of matter in nature is the study of physics. It is considered the oldest science because energy, force, and motion have been part of human observation just prior to the study of astronomy. In physics, scientists attempt to understand the rules that govern our world and the universe.Â
Because physics studies the rules behind why matter behaves the way it does, many physical discoveries stem from simple observations and deductions, a system that physicists still use. Watching how objects behave is still something that can be done today, and backing it up with plausible theory then testing this theory is the practice of physics. A simple observation of nature such as why everything falls to the ground goes under the realm of physics.
Its history is often joined with other sciences. Not until the sixteenth century does physics emerge as a unique form of science. For a long time it was greatly involved in philosophy, philosophers being the people who attempted to understand and predict the behavior of the surrounding world and celestial bodies by proposing theories behind the movement and forces surrounding these objects. It wasn't till many years after its birth that experimental physics came to be.
Archimedes' Principle on Floating Objects
Archimedes was a Greek physicist who discovered the principle of buoyancy. His story of discovery is a classic example of how observation can further science and scientific theory in an instant. It was said that he was tasked by the king to discover whether or not a crown was made of pure gold without destroying the crown. Through observing the movement of water in his bathtub, Archimedes realized that objects displace water. He came up with a solution for discovering the density of an object. Learning an object's density would allow him to compare the gold crown to actual gold and see if the crown was pure gold.
This observation and solution were developed into the Archimedes principle, which states that an object that floats or sinks will displace an amount of fluid equal to the force that the water exerts on it. Through various tests, Archimedes observed that objects which displaced water greater than its weight floats because the water “pushes back” a force onto the object which will keep it up from under the water. An object which does not displace enough water sinks.
A lot of this principle depends on density, an object's mass divided by its volume. If an object's density is less than that of water, it will float; greater than water and it will sink. It is this principle that is now used in many modern day activities. Sailing, diving, and swimming all follow the principle of floating objects.
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