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].

12 Fundamental Laws of Physics Everyone Should Know

What are the basic laws of physics?

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