Is Relativity the Evolution of Classical Physics?

Click For Summary
SUMMARY

Classical physics encompasses Newtonian mechanics, classical electrodynamics, and the theories of special and general relativity, with the latter sometimes debated as "classical." Kinematics in One Dimension is definitively classified as classical physics, as it does not involve quantum mechanics. The discussion highlights that classical electrodynamics, developed in the 19th century, is considered classical despite its relativistic nature. Ultimately, relativity serves to address inconsistencies in classical physics, while quantum theory represents a fundamental shift away from classical concepts.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of Newtonian mechanics
  • Familiarity with classical electrodynamics (Maxwell's equations)
  • Basic knowledge of special and general relativity
  • Awareness of quantum mechanics principles
NEXT STEPS
  • Study the principles of Newtonian mechanics
  • Explore Maxwell's equations in classical electrodynamics
  • Learn about the implications of special and general relativity
  • Investigate the foundational concepts of quantum mechanics
USEFUL FOR

Students of physics, educators in classical mechanics, and anyone interested in the evolution of physical theories from classical to modern physics.

askor
Messages
168
Reaction score
9
Can someone please tell me what is Classical Physics?

Does Kinematics in One Dimension such as in Physics textbook is considered a "Classical Physics"?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Not QM and not Relativity, I would think. Non-relativistic kinematics of macro objects would certainly seem to qualify as Classical, IMO.
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: anorlunda
askor said:
Does Kinematics in One Dimension such as in Physics textbook is considered a "Classical Physics"?
Sure, kinematics is part of "classical" physics. But note that homework problems belong in the Homework section.
 
Classical physics excludes quantum physics. Depending on who you ask, it may or may not include Einstein's relativity.
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: Delta2
askor said:
Can someone please tell me what is Classical Physics?

Does Kinematics in One Dimension such as in Physics textbook is considered a "Classical Physics"?
That's not so easy to answer, because not everybody agrees on what's "classical physics". For me classical physics is everything which is not quantum physics, i.e., on a fundamental level classical physics consists of Newtonian mechanics, classical electrodynamics, and special as well as general relativity. Some people also call relativity "not classical" though.
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: bhobba, Delta2 and Ibix
It's been said that general relativity is the jewel in the crown of classical physics.
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: Delta2, Ibix and vanhees71
I am an old romantic of the end of the 19th century, in my opinion classical physics is all physics as they have been assembled up to the end of 19th century 1880-1900 and they don't include special or general relativity, and of course not anything quantum (quantum mechanics, quantum electrodynamics).
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: bhobba and vanhees71
In summary:
  • Anything that is not using special relativity, general relativity nor anything quantum is definitely classical.
  • Anything quantum is definitely non-classical.
  • Special and general relativity may be classical or not depending who is talking. Note that non-quantum electromagnetism falls into this bracket since it's an inherently relativistic theory.
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: vanhees71
Delta2 said:
I am an old romantic of the end of the 19th century, in my opinion classical physics is all physics as they have been assembled up to the end of 19th century 1880-1900 and they don't include special or general relativity, and of course not anything quantum (quantum mechanics, quantum electrodynamics).
So is classical electrodynamics (Maxwell's and the Maxwellian's version of it) then classical, because it was definitely discovered in the 19th century or is not not classical, because it's the paradigmatic example of a relativistic (gauge) field theory?

Also relativity is just a smooth continuation of the "good old classical physics". It's just "repairing" the inconsistencies of classical physics as far as the spacetime description is concerned, dealing with the intrinsic contradictions between the Galilei-Newtonian spacetime structure with Maxwell's electrodynamics. All of what you call "classical physics", based on Galilei-Newton spacetime, was very quickly "translated" into its relativistic version (though it took some decades to sort out some quibbles with subjects like thermodynamics).

In contradistinction to that quantum theory was really a revolution, which indeed forced the physicists to abandon the "old romantic" deterministic worldview, and that's why I would think that it's more appropriate to count relativity to classical physics while quantum theory is really something new.
 
  • #10
vanhees71 said:
So is classical electrodynamics (Maxwell's and the Maxwellian's version of it) then classical, because it was definitely discovered in the 19th century or is not not classical, because it's the paradigmatic example of a relativistic (gauge) field theory?

Also relativity is just a smooth continuation of the "good old classical physics". It's just "repairing" the inconsistencies of classical physics as far as the spacetime description is concerned, dealing with the intrinsic contradictions between the Galilei-Newtonian spacetime structure with Maxwell's electrodynamics. All of what you call "classical physics", based on Galilei-Newton spacetime, was very quickly "translated" into its relativistic version (though it took some decades to sort out some quibbles with subjects like thermodynamics).

In contradistinction to that quantum theory was really a revolution, which indeed forced the physicists to abandon the "old romantic" deterministic worldview, and that's why I would think that it's more appropriate to count relativity to classical physics while quantum theory is really something new.
Classical Electrodynamics are part of classical physics, they were discovered in the 19th century and no one knew back then what is a relativistic gauge field theory and that CED is one such theory

The inconsistencies of classical physics were known by the late 19th century. Relativity fixed some of them and quantum physics fixed some other. If I had to choose between relativity and quantum physics as an extension of classical physics I would choose relativity of course.
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: vanhees71

Similar threads

  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
2K
  • · Replies 25 ·
Replies
25
Views
2K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
1K
  • · Replies 10 ·
Replies
10
Views
2K
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
2K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
2K
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
3K
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
3K
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
2K