Physics · Ch 11 — Recent Developments in Physics
Introduction
Introduction
This final unit of Volume 2 changes register from the rest of the book: instead of another derivation-heavy chapter of laws and formulas, it is a guided qualitative survey of where physics is actively pushing the frontier today. This opening section places physics as the foundational science beneath essentially every applied field -- engineering (civil, mechanical, electrical, aeronautical, and more), technology (biotechnology, information technology, materials/production technologies, and more), the other sciences (earth science, astronomy, agriculture, chemistry, and more), and medicine (from diagnostic radiology to surgery) -- all resting on physics as their common base discipline, contributing to what the book calls the holistic development of mankind (shown in the unit's own pillars-and-foundation figure, with Physics as the base supporting Engineering, Technology, Sciences and Medicine). …
What this figure shows. A four-pillar infographic (explicitly marked 'Not for examination') resting on a base labelled PHYSICS and topped by a beam reading 'HOLISTIC DEVELOPMENT OF MANKIND'. The four pillars -- Engineering, Technology, Sciences, Medicine -- each list a long column of specific disciplines that ultimately rest on physics: Engineering lists civil/mechanical/electrical/electronics/aeronautical/automobile/instrumentation/metallurgical/energy/environmental/systems-and-control/marine engineering and more; Technology lists biotechnology, information technology, ceramic/leather/plastic/textile/printing/production/computer/nuclear technology and more; Sciences lists physical/earth/meteorology-and-climatology/astronomy/agriculture/bioinformatics/life/chemical/environmental sciences and more; Medicine lists specialities from allergy and immunology through radiology, internal medicine, neurology, oncology, pathology, pediatrics, psychiatry and surgery. The figure's single message is …