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Physics vs Mathematics - What's the difference?

physics | mathematics |

As nouns the difference between physics and mathematics

is that physics is the branch of science concerned with the study of properties and interactions of space, time, matter and energy while mathematics is an abstract representational system used in the study of numbers, shapes, structure, change and the relationships between these concepts.

As a verb physics

is third-person singular of physic.

physics

English

(wikipedia physics)

Alternative forms

* physicks (obsolete)

Noun

(-)
  • The branch of science concerned with the study of properties and interactions of space, time, matter and energy.
  • * {{quote-magazine, date=2012-03
    • , author=(Jeremy Bernstein) , title=A Palette of Particles , volume=100, issue=2, page=146 , magazine=(American Scientist) citation , passage=The physics of elementary particles in the 20th century was distinguished by the observation of particles whose existence had been predicted by theorists sometimes decades earlier.}}
    Newtonian physics''' was extended by Einstein to explain the effects of travelling near the speed of light; quantum '''physics extends it to account for the behaviour of atoms.
  • Of or pertaining to the physical aspects of a phenomenon or a system, especially those studied in physics.
    • The physics of car crashes would not let Tom Cruise walk away like that.

    Meronyms

    * See also

    Related terms

    * physical * physicist

    Derived terms

    * aerophysics * astrophysics * attophysics * biophysics * cartoon physics * chemical physics * classical physics * econophysics * ecophysics * gastrophysics * geophysics * heliophysics * macrophysics * metametaphysics * metaphysics * microphysics * modern physics * neurophysics * nonphysics * nuclear physics * particle physics * pataphysics * petrophysics * photophysics * psychophysics * quantum biophysics * quantum physics * radiation physics * radiophysics * sociophysics * soil physics * tectonophysics * theoretical physics

    Noun

    (head)

    • Verb

    (head)
  • (physic)

    • External links

    * * *

    mathematics

    English

    (wikipedia mathematics)

    Alternative forms

    * mathematicks (obsolete)

    Noun

    (-)
  • An abstract representational system used in the study of numbers, shapes, structure, change and the relationships between these concepts.
  • * 2001 , David Salsburg, The Lady Tasting Tea: How Statistics Revolutionized Science in the Twentieth Century , page 8
    • In many cases, the mathematics involved are deep and complicated.
  • * 2002 , Ian Stewart, Does God Play Dice?: The New Mathematics of Chaos , page 38
    • The answer is 'yes', and the mathematics needed is the theory of probability and its applied cousin, statistics.
  • A person's ability to count, calculate, and use different systems of mathematics at differing levels.
    • My mathematics is not very good.
    Their mathematics are not very good.
    Their mathematics is not very good.

    Usage notes

    * Before the beginning of the 20th century, it was proper to say "My mathematics are not very good".

    Synonyms

    * (ability to use mathematics) numeracy * abbreviation: maths * See also

    Derived terms

    * applied mathematics * astromathematics * biomathematics * discrete mathematics * ethnomathematics * metamathematics * pseudomathematics * pure mathematics * recreational mathematics

    Related terms

    * mathematical * mathematically * mathematician

    See also

    * (wikipedia "mathematics") * (Definitions of mathematics) * polymath

    External links

    * PlanetMath.Org Encyclopedia * Mathematics using gifts * Mathematics Glossary * Mathworld Encyclopedia