Sunday, August 28, 2011

Father of Physics

Who is the father of Physics?

Technically Isaac Newton would be more likely to deserve the name father of physics. Albert Einstein would be more likely to be called the father of astrophysics-although physics and astrophysics are related. Physics is the science of matter and energy. Astrophysics is matter and energy as it relates to the universe. Since a father should be the first person who comes up with physics it could be thought as Thales of Miletus who was the first who came up with primordial matter.

Physics though it employs mathematical means to comprehend various concepts which are then subjected to tests or experiments also has a philosophical aspect about it. The ancient Greek philosopher Thales (6th century BC) is widely regarded as the father of physics. He is credited with being the first to study the heavens; some of his achievements include predicting a solar eclipse, construction of an almanac and his statement that all 'things' are formed of one primary element.

Some important philosopher physicists of the period include Aristotle, Democritus and Archimedes. The father of Modern Physics is considered to be the Italian physicist Galileo Galilei most famous for his assertion of the heliocentric view of the solar system. Some famous physicists of the modern period are Sir Isaac Newton, Johannes Kepler, Benjamin Franklin, Michael Faraday, Nikolai Tesla, Niels Bohr and Albert Einstein among others.

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