What is Classical physics: Definition and 222 Discussions

Classical physics is a group of physics theories that predate modern, more complete, or more widely applicable theories. If a currently accepted theory is considered to be modern, and its introduction represented a major paradigm shift, then the previous theories, or new theories based on the older paradigm, will often be referred to as belonging to the realm of "classical physics".
As such, the definition of a classical theory depends on context. Classical physical concepts are often used when modern theories are unnecessarily complex for a particular situation. Most usually classical physics refers to pre-1900 physics, while modern physics refers to post-1900 physics which incorporates elements of quantum mechanics and relativity.

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  1. G

    Loss of simultaneity explained by classical physics

    if an object is made of particles that are interacting via electric and magnetic fields that propagate at the speed of light then does it not follow that a moving object will experience a loss of simultaneity? in other words, it is not necessary to go outside of classical physics to explain...
  2. A

    Where Can I Find Classic Works of Physics and Sciences Online?

    I have been having a lot of trouble finding classic works of physics and sciences online. Can't find anything by Ptolemy, Kepler, Copernicus, Newton, Galileo. What a gyp!
  3. G

    Classical Physics with Time going Backwards

    First, what does it mean for time to be going backwards? Basically, any time there is a reference to time, we just need to negate it - so time will have a negative effect of what it usually would. Velocity (1D): There is an object that moved from A to B in time t at a constant speed. If we...
  4. G

    Blueshift + Classical Physics = Golden Ratio

    I was doing calculations to see how far classical physics would take us in terms of the speed of an object never exceeding the speed of light in a reference frame. Here was the scenario I set up: http://la.gg/upl/light.jpg So, if we want to find the time it takes the light to get from (A)...
  5. M

    The Fall of Classical Physics: From Newton to Einstein

    what is classical physics?and what are the theories of modern physics which have proven it wrong?
  6. R

    What Are the Fundamental Queries About Classical Physics Concepts?

    1.is work done the dot product of force with displacement of the center of mass of the body or the point of application of the force?? 2.consider a battery whose terminals are connected by a pure conducting wire then since there can be no potential difference between any 2 points on...
  7. M

    What Classical Physics Problems Remain Unsolved in Modern Physics?

    I like to see you gents post up some classical physics problems that have yet to be answered by modern physics? Anyone?
  8. D

    Classical Physics - Pulley Problem

    A massless string is placed over a massless pulley, and each end is wound around and fastened to a vertical hoop. The hoops have masses M1 and M2 and radii R1 and R2. The apparatus is placed in a uniform gravitation field g and released with each end of the string aligned along the field. I...
  9. D

    Classical Physics Pulley Problem

    A massless string is placed over a massless pulley, and each end is wound around and fastened to a vertical hoop. The hoops have masses M1 and M2 and radii R1 and R2. The apparatus is placed in a uniform gravitation field g and released with each end of the string aligned along the field. I...
  10. B

    What Is Galileo's Horse and Rider Experiment?

    Dear physics gurus, A couple of years ago I saw a TV program on physics, in it there was an classical physics experiment they recreated. The experiment was roughly like this: A horse rider holds a stone in his hand and the horse he is riding goes at full speed. The rider drops the stone...
  11. Loren Booda

    Would classical physics not exist without probability?

    Quantum mechanics is a highly statistical theory. Classical physics is usually regarded as deterministic, that probability is not nearly as fundamental concerning measurement and interrelation of variables. Might it be so that classical physics is just as reliant on probability, albeit in...
  12. P

    Classical Physics from Newton's Laws?

    How much of classical physics can be purely derived from Newton's 3 Laws of motion? Can Newton's laws derive conservation of momentum? Or any other conservation laws? Consider this example Let there be no external forces. When standing in a stationary bus and the bus accelerates forwards...
  13. Q

    Free Classical Physics Lecture Notes

    http://www.pma.caltech.edu/Courses/ph136/yr2006/text.html Ph 136: APPLICATIONS OF CLASSICAL PHYSICS Academic Year 2004-2005 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Instructor: Kip Thorne. 154 W. Bridge Annex X4598. Email: <removed by Doc Al>
  14. E

    The Photoelectric effect and classical physics

    The Photoelectric effect and "classical physics" The kinetic energy of the ejected electrons predicted by the classical physics should be related to the intensity of the light. According to experimental results, the kinetic energy of the electrons is proportional to the frequencies of the...
  15. Y

    Does Bohr Model Contradict Classical Physics?

    a question asks if the Bohr model contredicts in any way classical physics. i replied that only the first assumption that the electrons are fixed in circular orbits violates the laws of classical mechanics - of the idea of centripetal acceleration (?) am i right to say that? did i miss...
  16. E

    Isn't escape velocity against classical physics?

    "In physics, for a given gravitational field and a given position, the escape velocity is the minimum speed an object without propulsion, at that position, needs to have to move away indefinitely from the source of the field, as opposed to falling back or staying in an orbit within a bounded...
  17. J

    Quantum mechanics and classical physics

    Hi, I was wondering if there is a standard "margin of error" concerning the level of divergence from classical physics we see when looking at atoms and particles in a quantum context. That is, I know it is the case that we can't pinpoint the exact next location of a particle, but is it the...
  18. R

    Certainty and Classical Physics

    There is a presumption that classical physics describes a world of certainty. For example, moving classical objects are, supposedly, described by well defined trajectories, and so on. And, in fact, this take seems to work wonderfully well in practice in the prescribed theaters of physics...
  19. J

    Is modern physics a departure from classical assumptions about the universe?

    Hoping for some input on the following: In the development of what is now known as classical physics, there was a tacit assumption that the universe was governed by laws, which we did not know, but attempted to understand. In modern physics, most notably with Relativity and Quantum...
  20. G

    Mastering Classical Physics: Solving a Square Array of Charges Problem

    HI, I just have a simple question if you have a square array of charges of +1 where the charges lie on the vertices of the square(so the charges form a suare patten where 4 of them form a unit square). The way you can balance the charges is by placing a -1 charge in the center of each square or...
  21. M

    Has number phi ever popped up in modern or classical physics

    I was wondering if the number phi (1.618) has ever popped up in modern or classical physics. thanks in advance
  22. E

    From classical physics to strings

    in fact if we have a classic hamiltonian. H=p**2/2m+V(x) to quantize it we would do.. p=-ihd/dx and H=ihd/dt (1st quantization) Or p=(a+)-(a) and x=(a+)+(a) in terms of creation and anhinilation operators (second quantization). But..if we would like to write it in a string theory...
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