Physics & Chemistry

Most of you have probably heard of the scientific studies of chemistry and physics. But do you really know what they are? Do you know what chemists and physicists study? Well, you are about to find out, because you are about to become junior chemists and physicists! Chemistry and physics are natural sciences in that they study characteristics of the world. In a sense, we can say they study everything around us. For example, as you got ready to sit down to read this, you probably turned on a light so you could see and shut your bedroom door to block out the sound in your house so you could concentrate. You may have taken a deep breath before cracking open the front cover or brought a snack with you to eat to give you some energy. Believe it or not, with all these actions, you were mixed up in the world of chemistry and physics! Though these two sciences surround us every day, they are somewhat different from the other topics you have studied in this year's science class so far, because much of what takes place in chemistry and physics happens “below the surface.” We don’t consciously notice or think about all the ways chemistry and physics are present in our lives like we do when we are studying animals or plants. And yet, every second of our day depends upon the objects of these two natural sciences. At their core, these sciences are the study of different aspects of matter and energy (those are two words you are going to hear a lot). 

Chemistry is the study of the structure of different types of matter, the transformation of one kind of substance into another kind of substance, and the energy changes occurring in these transformations. 

Physics, meanwhile, studies the way in which matter can be moved in space and the energy changes involved in those movements. This includes the study of sound, light, electricity, and other areas of life that will be familiar to you, only you will understand them on a deeper level when our journey concludes. So without any further delay, let’s dive into this fascinating world!