Portal:Physics/2012 Selected articles

	This is an archive of the entries that have appeared or will appear on the Wikipedia Physics Portal. ← 2011 Selected articles \| 2012 Selected articles \| 2013 Selected articles →

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January

Below are links to Featured content within WikiProject Physics. A small bronze star icon ( ) on the top right corner of an article's page, symbolizes the featured content on Wikipedia.

A featured article exemplifies our very best work and is distinguished by professional standards of writing, presentation, and sourcing. Featured article status means the article is well written, comprehensive, and well researched. Besides meeting the policies regarding content for all Wikipedia articles, it meets style guidelines.

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February

Sir Isaac Newton

Classical mechanics describes the motion of macroscopic objects, from projectiles to parts of machinery, as well as astronomical objects, such as spacecraft, planets, stars, and galaxies. Within these domains, it produces very accurate results. And thus, is one of the oldest and largest subjects in science, engineering and technology. Besides this, many related specialties deal with gases, liquids, and solids, and so on. In addition, classical mechanics is enhanced by special relativity for high velocity objects that are approaching the speed of light. General relativity is employed to handle gravitation at a deeper level, and finally, quantum mechanics handles the wave-particle duality of atoms and molecules.

Sir Isaac Newton (4 January 1643 – 31 March 1727 or 25 December 1642 – 20 March 1727) was an English physicist, mathematician, astronomer, natural philosopher, alchemist, and theologian, and is considered by many scholars and members of the general public to be one of the most influential people in human history. His Philosophiæ Naturalis Principia Mathematica (Latin for "Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy"; usually called the Principia), published in 1687, is one of the most important scientific books ever written. It lays the groundwork for most of classical mechanics. In this work, Newton described universal gravitation and the three laws of motion, which dominated the scientific view of the physical universe for the next three centuries. Newton showed that the motions of objects on Earth and of celestial bodies are governed by the same set of natural laws, by demonstrating the consistency between Kepler's laws of planetary motion and his theory of gravitation; thus removing the last doubts about heliocentrism and advancing the Scientific Revolution.

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March

Portrait of Galileo Galilei by Giusto Sustermans

Galileo Galilei was an Italian physicist, mathematician, astronomer, and philosopher who played a major role in the Scientific Revolution. His achievements include improvements to the telescope and consequent astronomical observations and support for Copernicanism. Galileo has been called the "father of modern observational astronomy", the "father of modern physics", the "father of science", and "the Father of Modern Science".

His contributions to observational astronomy include the telescopic confirmation of the phases of Venus, the discovery of the four largest satellites of Jupiter (named the Galilean moons in his honour), and the observation and analysis of sunspots. Galileo also worked in applied science and technology, inventing an improved military compass and other instruments.

Galileo's championing of heliocentrism was controversial within his lifetime, when most subscribed to either geocentrism or the Tychonic system.[9] He met with opposition from astronomers, who doubted heliocentrism due to the absence of an observed stellar parallax. The matter was investigated by the Roman Inquisition in 1615, and they concluded that it could only be supported as a possibility, not as an established fact. Galileo later defended his views in Dialogue Concerning the Two Chief World Systems, which appeared to attack Pope Urban VIII and thus alienated him and the Jesuits, who had both supported Galileo up until this point. He was tried by the Inquisition, found "vehemently suspect of heresy", forced to recant, and spent the rest of his life under house arrest. It was while Galileo was under house arrest that he wrote one of his finest works, Two New Sciences. Here he summarized the work he had done some forty years earlier, on the two sciences now called kinematics and strength of materials.

Classical mechanics describes the motion of macroscopic objects, from projectiles to parts of machinery, as well as astronomical objects, such as spacecraft, planets, stars, and galaxies. Within these domains, it produces very accurate results. And thus, is one of the oldest and largest subjects in science, engineering and technology. Besides this, many related specialties deal with gases, liquids, and solids, and so on. In addition, classical mechanics is enhanced by special relativity for high velocity objects that are approaching the speed of light. General relativity is employed to handle gravitation at a deeper level, and finally, quantum mechanics handles the wave-particle duality of atoms and molecules.

Edit selected article

April

This month, the Physics portal selects various Wikipedia books related to physics. A Wikipedia Book is a collection of Wikipedia articles that can be easily saved, rendered electronically in PDF, ZIM or OpenDocument format, or ordered as a printed book. As with most projects on Wikipedia, this one is evolving.

There is also the book Chemical elements, which contains links to various books on the elements.

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May

Below are links to Featured content within WikiProject Physics. A small bronze star icon ( ) on the top right corner of an article's page, symbolizes the featured content on Wikipedia.

A featured article exemplifies our very best work and is distinguished by professional standards of writing, presentation, and sourcing. Featured article status means the article is well written, comprehensive, and well researched. Besides meeting the policies regarding content for all Wikipedia articles, it meets style guidelines.

Edit selected article

June

This month, the Physics portal selects various Wikipedia books related to physics. A Wikipedia Book is a collection of Wikipedia articles that can be easily saved, rendered electronically in PDF, ZIM or OpenDocument format, or ordered as a printed book. As with most projects on Wikipedia, this one is evolving.

There is also the book Chemical elements, which contains links to various books on the elements.

Edit selected article

July

Below are links to Featured content within WikiProject Physics. A small bronze star icon ( ) on the top right corner of an article's page, symbolizes the featured content on Wikipedia.

A featured article exemplifies our very best work and is distinguished by professional standards of writing, presentation, and sourcing. Featured article status means the article is well written, comprehensive, and well researched. Besides meeting the policies regarding content for all Wikipedia articles, it meets style guidelines.

Edit selected article

August

This month, the Physics portal selects various Wikipedia books related to physics. A Wikipedia Book is a collection of Wikipedia articles that can be easily saved, rendered electronically in PDF, ZIM or OpenDocument format, or ordered as a printed book. As with most projects on Wikipedia, this one is evolving.

There is also the book Chemical elements, which contains links to various books on the elements.

Also, a new Wikipedia article entitled List of physics concepts in primary and secondary education curricula may be of interest.

Edit selected article

September

Below are links to Featured content within WikiProject Physics. A small bronze star icon ( ) on the top right corner of an article's page, symbolizes the featured content on Wikipedia.

A featured article exemplifies our very best work and is distinguished by professional standards of writing, presentation, and sourcing. Featured article status means the article is well written, comprehensive, and well researched. Besides meeting the policies regarding content for all Wikipedia articles, it meets style guidelines.

Edit selected article

October

This month, the Physics portal selects various Wikipedia books related to physics. A Wikipedia Book is a collection of Wikipedia articles that can be easily saved, rendered electronically in PDF, ZIM or OpenDocument format, or ordered as a printed book. As with most projects on Wikipedia, this one is evolving.

There is also the book Chemical elements, which contains links to various books on the elements.
Also, a new Wikipedia article entitled List of physics concepts in primary and secondary education curricula may be of interest.

Edit selected article

November

Below are links to Featured content within WikiProject Physics. A small bronze star icon ( ) on the top right corner of an article's page, symbolizes the featured content on Wikipedia.

A featured article exemplifies our very best work and is distinguished by professional standards of writing, presentation, and sourcing. Featured article status means the article is well written, comprehensive, and well researched. Besides meeting the policies regarding content for all Wikipedia articles, it meets style guidelines.

Edit selected article

December

This month, the Physics portal selects various Wikipedia books related to physics. A Wikipedia Book is a collection of Wikipedia articles that can be easily saved, rendered electronically in PDF, ZIM or OpenDocument format, or ordered as a printed book. As with most projects on Wikipedia, this one is evolving.

There is also the book Chemical elements, which contains links to various books on the elements.
Also, a new Wikipedia article entitled List of physics concepts in primary and secondary education curricula may be of interest.

Edit selected article