+23254 Physics started out as being a descriptive science: light things float, heavy things fall, thrown items make an arc, the moon goes around the earth, etc.
Starting with Galileo, numbers were used to make predictions: what portion of an item floats; how fast do items fall; what kind of an arc is made, how high does the arc rise, how far does the arc go; in what way does the moon go around the earth; etc.
Math is needed to answer these questions, as well as other questions: what is the probability that it will rain tomorrow; how fast does a computer process information; how can we make a more fuel-efficient car?
+23254 Physics started out as being a descriptive science: light things float, heavy things fall, thrown items make an arc, the moon goes around the earth, etc.
Starting with Galileo, numbers were used to make predictions: what portion of an item floats; how fast do items fall; what kind of an arc is made, how high does the arc rise, how far does the arc go; in what way does the moon go around the earth; etc.
Math is needed to answer these questions, as well as other questions: what is the probability that it will rain tomorrow; how fast does a computer process information; how can we make a more fuel-efficient car?
