Laws of Physics vs. Laws of Nature

[kgreen]

I'm new to studying physics. Are the laws of nature and the laws of physics synonymous with each other? Thanks!

 

[diazona]

Sure, you can say they are if you want... it's not like either "laws of nature" or "laws of physics" is a technical term with a precise meaning.

 

[kgreen]

That's what I thought. Thank you.

 

[Bob S]

Sometimes, new mathematics has to be developed in order to understand the physics of nature. It is said that Newton developed the Calculus of Variations in order to solve the brachistchrone problem (in one day) in 1696. See
http://www-history.mcs.st-and.ac.uk/HistTopics/Brachistochrone.html
Bob S