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modern physics

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modern physics

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Also known as physics (modern)

aspects of physics, using 20th century theories such as quantum mechanics and relativity

~4 min read

Encyclopedic overview

Classical physics is usually concerned with everyday conditions: speeds are much lower than the speed of light, sizes are much greater than that of atoms, yet very small in astronomical terms. Modern physics, however, is concerned with high velocities, small distances, and very large energies.

Modern physics is a branch of physics that developed in the early 20th century and onward or branches greatly influenced by early 20th century physics. Notable branches of modern physics include quantum mechanics, special relativity, and general relativity.

Excerpted from Wikipedia’s “modern physics” article, available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence.

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