But the forces that created both Cape Cod and the spiral arm of stars and dust obey universal laws. Discovering that has enabled humans to understand more of what goes on in our universe. As we gain more knowledge, what would have appeared complicated or capricious can be seen as essentially simple and in a deep sense orderly. Understanding natural laws leads to a better accommodation of nature to humans and of humans to nature. Physics is concerned with questions that cannot be decided by thought alone.
Answers have to be sought and ideas tested by experiment.
In fact, the questions are often generated by experimental discovery. But there is every reason to believe that some answers, once found, have a permanent and universal validity. All the evidence indicates that the laws of physics are essentially the same everywhere in the observable universe. The introductory courses in physics are designed to serve students planning to concentrate in any of the natural sciences. A calculus-based sequence is designed to meet the needs of students majoring in chemistry, engineering science or physics.