Grace Stoner, age 13, of Asbury Park, N.J., for her question:
WHAT ARE THE PHYSICAL SCIENCES?
Physical sciences are concerned with the nature of the universe. Vast galaxies are studied as well as single atoms. Also studied is the earth and the physical events that take place on it.
Physical sciences include astronomy, chemistry, geology, meteorology and physics.
Astronomy is the study of all the heavenly bodies and their motion. Astronomers have discovered and classified our planets as well as many stars and distant galaxies. There's still much to learn of the millions of objects that exist far out in space.
Chemistry is the study of materials found on the earth. Chemists learn how to determine a material's atomic and molecular structure. Chemists in industry work to develop better textiles, paper, rubber, plastics, drugs, metals and other products.
Geology is the study of the shape and structure of the earth and how the earth has changed during its history. Geologists learn how mountains rise up and are worn down, and how rivers and glaciers cut deep valleys out of the earth.
Meteorology is the study of weather and the air, or atmosphere. Its main problem involves predicting the weather. Many meteorologists study the stratosphere, or upper atmosphere, above the highest clouds. They try to learn how conditions there affect our weather.
Physics is concerned with energy and matter. Physicists study mechanics, heat, light, sound, electricity and magnetism, and the properties of matter. Energy and power of all kinds fall within the scope of the physicist.
In atomic and nuclear physics, scientists study the properties of atoms and their nuclei. They search for new ways to control and use the energy of the atom.
The science of physics also helps engineers design methods to get energy from one place to another.
In the physical sciences area of chemistry, chemurgy involves the use of farm and forest products as raw materials for chemical manufacturing.
Organic chemistry is the study of compounds containing the element carbon and inorganic chemistry concerns all other compounds. Physical chemistry undertakes to explain why and how chemical reactions take place.
In the physical science area of geology, geologists study the location of coal, petroleum and other minerals beneath the surface of the earth. They also named and classified rocks and minerals. Branches include petrology, the study of rocks; mineralogy, the study of minerals and seismology, the study of earthquakes.
A geologist is also concerned about the age of rocks and with the events that occurred millions of years ago and changed the contours of the earth's surface.
Many areas of science overlap and often workers in several fields may study the same problems from different points of view.