College Physics

The goal of physics is to provide an understanding of the physical world by developing theories based on experiments. A physical theory is essentially a guess, usually expressed mathematically, about how a given physical system works. The theory makes certain predictions about the physical system which can then be checked by observations and experiments. If the predictions turn out to correspond closely to what is actually observed, then the theory stands, although it remains provisional. No theory to date has given a complete description of all physical phenomena, even within a given subdiscipline of physics. Every theory is a work in progress.