Science: A Field Of Wonder/Branches of Science
There are two broad divisions of science, the physical sciences and the biological sciences.
Physical Science
[edit | edit source]Physical Sciences deal with the study of nonliving matter. Some of the branches of science that fall under this category are the following:
- Chemistry - It deals with the study of the composition, structure, form, properties, and changes in matter.
- Physics - It deals with the study of matter and energy including light, sound, electricity, magnetism, motion, and radiation.
- Earth Sciences - These deal with the scientific study of Earth, its composition, structure, and other astronomical object, interacting with it. The branches of Earth Science include geology, meteorology, seismology, and astronomy.
- Geology - This branch of science involves the study of the origin, history, structure, and evolution of the crust of Earth. It also involves the examination of soil and rocks.
- Meteorology - This is the study of the atmosphere that focuses on weather processes and forecasting.
- Seismology - This is the study of earthquakes and the movement of waves and artificially produced vibrations of Earth.
- Astronomy - This is the study of celestial bodies, such as stars, planets, comets, and galaxies, and some phenomena which originate outside the atmosphere of Earth.
Biological Sciences or Life Sciences
[edit | edit source]Biological Sciences deal with the study of living organisms. The sciences under this category focus on the study of internal body functions and the structure of body cells and tissues. Some of the branches of science under life sciences are the following:
- Biology - This deals with the study of living things. It encompasses all the various aspects like the structure and function of the various organs, morphology, physiology, taxonomy, etc.
- Zoology - This deals with the study of animals — their form and structure.
- Ecology - This deals with the study of the relationship of living organisms among one another and their interaction with their surroundings.
- Botany - This deals with the study of plants.
- Genetics - This deals with the study of heredity — the ways in which characteristics are passed from parent to offspring.