The Impact of Physics on Society

Physics is considered a fundamental science. All the branches of science are interrelated and constrained by physics. Chemistry, Biology, Geology, Astronomy, etc. study the principle mechanism of surrounding objects. Physics is the observation and implementation of those observations to create something that helps society to grow. In Physics, we observe the matter, its fundamental constituents, working, and usefulness to society. We have two major parts of Physics: Classical Physics, which involves mechanics, optics and thermodynamics, etc, and Modern Physics which is called the Physics of Technology. 

• Classical physics: Classical mechanics mainly covers the forces which act on the body and various bodies acting in motion and statics, all the required forces on an object or a body, kinematics, the cases of objects in motion and dynamics of motion, and the forces that affect it. It also includes fluid mechanics, which is the study of liquid objects. Electricity and magnetism are also important aspects of classical physics.

• Modern Physics: It informs us of space, time & matter, and their behaviour in our universe. It is the most complex topic and very helpful for scientists to understand different space objects, galaxies, interstellar objects, space phenomena, etc. Quantum physics tells us about the matter at the atomic and subatomic scales. It tells us about the behaviour of atoms, electrons, protons, neutrons, and other subatomic elements.

Key role in Development

The Discovery of new physics concepts leads to the development of new technologies that help us to solve many complex problems.

For example, travelling long distances was one of the biggest challenges humans faced, which led to the discovery of the steam engine, which played an important role in the Industrial Revolution. As travelling became affordable, people worldwide began sharing information and technologies. This led to even bigger discoveries that helped society to sustain its lives. 

Every technology, instrument and machine work in their respective principles, such as:

• Steam Engine – Thermodynamics
• Television/Radio – Electromagnetic waves
• Calculator – Digital logic & electronic circuit
• Atom Bomb – Nuclear Fission

Role and Technological Impact on the Society

Physics is everywhere in everyday activities, such as walking, driving a car, and using a phone. For everyday living, all the technologies we use are developed and governed by the laws of physics.

• The application of thermodynamics led to the development of steam engines that caused the ease of transportation.
• The medical industry used applications such as radiology, x-ray, and ultrasonography to study biological objects. It develops many medicines to treat diseases.
• Communication over long distances is now very handy and cheap to connect people across the globe. The electromagnetic waves’ principles used in television, telephone, etc devices provide communication facilities anywhere on earth, even on distant planets.
• Computers have become our daily need to work on digital logic and electronic circuits. Computers have made our life very easy. Everything we need to know is available on the internet and can be accessed on a computer. The network of many computers uses electromagnetic waves and complex networking structures governed by physics laws.
• Astrophysics and cosmology are 2 branches of physics that aid in understanding the universe.
• The entertainment industry uses digital devices to develop games, toys, and various objects that work on principles of physics. Television and mobile/smartphones are the devices developed from laws of physics for communication, entertainment, and many other applications.
• Physics covers almost every aspect of our life, from macroscopic to microscopic objects. 

Physics provides the basic fundamental knowledge required to build the technological advances in the future that ultimately help in the world’s economic growth.  Physics is used in the new developmental technological aspects like the infrastructure, and it allows trained personnel to make the best use and deliver scientific discoveries and advances.

Physics in Meeting Future Energy Requirements to help in technology

Physics seeks to find alternative solutions to the energy crisis, reduce pollution and create a healthy environment for both machines and humans. Solar energy is converted into electric energy that runs various electronic devices. It can be an efficient replacement as a renewable energy source to run engines in cars.

Non-renewable resources are used in vehicles, gadgets, and electronic devices that work on physics laws.

Nuclear energy is obtained from the fission of atoms, which produce an enormous amount of energy that could supply energy to the whole world for many years. It can also be used to develop nuclear weapons (Atom bombs).

By observing the winds, tides, and water, we can develop technology and infrastructure that harnesses the power to utilise it in different devices.

Conclusion

Physics is imperative for the development of new tools/devices. Almost every modern gadget used in our homes is made using principles of physics, and they function according to physics. If we understand Physics, we can understand the world surrounding us.

The contributions of scientists have been sensational in Physics, and the only reason is the concepts and principles used. We can live a super easy lifestyle with comfort and utilisation of all available resources. Scientists not just devise existing natural laws but also suggest a change to the existing ones to make sure every resource is used sustainably. Technology has also played a vital role in doing so, and with the help of physics, the existing scientific techniques are used to form new gadgets and instruments in Technology.