What are the basic laws of physics?

The basic laws of physics can be categorized mainly into classical physics, thermodynamics, electrodynamics, relativity, and quantum mechanics.

Classical Mechanics:

1. Newton's Laws of Motion:

• First Law (Inertia): An object remains at rest or in uniform motion unless acted upon by an external force^[1][2][6].
• Second Law: The force acting on an object is proportional to the mass of the object and the acceleration produced (F = ma)^[1][2][6].
• Third Law (Action-Reaction): For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction^[1][2][6].

2. Law of Universal Gravitation: Every mass attracts every other mass with a force proportional to the product of their masses and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them^[1][2].

Electrodynamics:

1. Coulomb's Law: The force between two point charges is directly proportional to the magnitude of each charge and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them^[1][2].

2. Maxwell's Equations: Describe the behavior of electric and magnetic fields and unify electricity and magnetism^[1].

Thermodynamics:

1. Zeroth Law: If two systems are each in thermal equilibrium with a third system, they are in thermal equilibrium with each other, establishing the concept of temperature^[1][2].

2. First Law (Conservation of Energy): Energy cannot be created or destroyed; it can only change forms^[1][2].

3. Second Law: Heat flows from hot to cold and entropy tends to increase in an isolated system^[1][2].

4. Third Law: As the temperature of a system approaches absolute zero, the entropy approaches a minimum value^[1][2].

Relativity:

1. Special Theory of Relativity: Laws of physics are the same for all non-accelerating observers, and the speed of light in a vacuum is constant^[1][2].

2. General Theory of Relativity: Massive objects warp spacetime, affecting the motion of other objects, explaining gravity via the curvature of spacetime^[1].

Quantum Mechanics:

1. Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle: It is impossible to know both the position and momentum of a particle simultaneously with perfect precision^[1].

2. Planck's Law: Quantifies spectral distribution of electromagnetic radiation from a perfect black body and introduces the concept of energy quantization^[1].

These laws collectively form the cornerstone of our understanding of the physical universe, providing insight into the behavior of matter, energy, and fundamental forces at various scales^{[1][2][3][4][5][6]}.