What Is Physics?

I like to answer this question as follows:

If it’s the study of anything that’s alive, or that’s ever been alive, that’s biology.

If it’s the study of how matter interacts at the level of the electrons that surround the nucleus of every atom/molecule, that’s chemistry.

If it’s literally any other scientific endeavor, that’s physics.  Thus, we have how matter interacts at the nuclear level, and …. mechanics (motion, force, pressure, gravity, energy/work. power, etc.), light, sound, heat, electricity and magnetism, the Earth, the cosmos, and all others things in the universe that are very large or very small.

Apparently, Ernst Rutherford, best known for his novel model of the atom in the early 20th Century, thought very highly of physics vis-a-vis the other sciences.

The meme below is completely incorrect, of course, but it’s (vaguely) funny.