Physics and Physician Come From the Same Greek Word
Physics is the study of matter and energy. The Greek root means nature, and it also gave English its word for a doctor.
Physics is the study of matter, energy and the laws they follow. The Greek *physis* means nature, and it produced an unexpected pair: *physics*, the science of the natural world, and *physician*, because medicine was once the study of natural things. The old English word for medicine was simply *physic*.
- The science of matter and energy. *A degree in physics.*
- The physical properties of something. *The physics of flight.*
- Physical — relating to the body or to matter. *Physical evidence.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun | physics | Nuclear physics. |
| Person | physicist | A theoretical physicist. |
| Adjective | physical | Physical laws. |
| Related | physician | A hospital physician. |
| Related | physique | A powerful physique. |
How it is used in a sentence
- Physics is a singular noun.Physics is difficult, not physics are.
- The physics of the collision are well understood.Plural agreement is used for the properties of a case.
- A physician treats without operating.As opposed to a surgeon.
Branches of physics
- Mechanics — motion and forces
- Thermodynamics — heat and energy
- Electromagnetism — electricity, magnetism and light
- Quantum mechanics — the behaviour of matter at very small scales
- Relativity — space, time and gravitation
From Latin *physica*, from Greek *physika*, natural things, from *physis*, nature. Aristotle's book of that name gave the subject its title, and the works that followed it gave us *metaphysics*.
Is physics singular or plural?
Singular as the name of the subject: physics is hard. It takes a plural verb when it means the physical properties of a situation.
Why does *physician* mean doctor?
Because medicine was the study of nature, and *physic* was the old English word for medical treatment. Surgeons had a separate and lower-status tradition.