physical laws

USAGE SUMMARY

"physical laws" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It can be used to refer to the set of laws that govern the physical world, such as gravity, the laws of motion, and so forth. For example: "We must obey the physical laws of the universe, or suffer the consequences."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

"Physical laws don't usually have exceptions".

The New York Times - Health

Why are there intelligible physical laws?

The Guardian - Tech

Underlying natural selection are physical laws.

The Guardian - Books

In every inertial reference frame, all physical laws remain unchanged.

Encyclopedia Britannica

No, agreed Kurzweil, but "lots of scientific laws are not physical laws, just observations".

The Guardian - Opinion

"Different physical laws dominate, ones we're not used to thinking about at our scale.

The Guardian

Physicists use the word symmetry whenever they find that physical laws remain indifferent to some change.

The New York Times

It derives from Newton's revolutionary ideas about the physical laws of the universe.

The New York Times - Arts

Yes, but only by relinquishing the traditional idea of physical laws as fixed, perfect relationships.

The Guardian - Opinion

An athlete who appeared "to be exempt, at least in part, from certain physical laws".

The New Yorker

Physical laws, he insisted, are the same in all inertial systems.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing complex systems, specify which "physical laws" are most relevant to avoid ambiguity. For example, in thermodynamics, emphasize the laws of conservation of energy.

Common error

Avoid using "physical laws" interchangeably with "theories". Laws are descriptive and universally accepted, while theories are explanatory and subject to refinement or change.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "physical laws" functions primarily as a noun phrase, serving as the subject or object of a sentence. It refers to the fundamental principles governing the behavior of matter and energy in the universe. Ludwig provides numerous examples demonstrating its use in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

42%

News & Media

25%

Encyclopedias

13%

Less common in

Wiki

7%

Formal & Business

7%

Reference

6%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "physical laws" is a grammatically sound and frequently used noun phrase referring to the fundamental principles governing the universe. As Ludwig AI confirms, it appears across diverse sources, particularly in scientific, news, and encyclopedia contexts. To use the phrase effectively, distinguish "physical laws" from theories and be specific about which laws are relevant to the discussion. When communicating about science use the correct term, this ensures clarity and accuracy in writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

laws of physics

Focuses specifically on the laws governing physics, a subset of physical laws.

natural laws

Emphasizes the natural aspect, implying inherent and universal rules.

scientific principles

Highlights the scientific basis and their role as fundamental principles.

rules of nature

Uses a simpler, more accessible term for the same concept.

fundamental constants

Shifts the focus to the constants that underpin these laws.

cosmic laws

Adds a cosmic dimension, emphasizing the universality.

governing principles of the universe

Broadens the scope to encompass all principles that govern the universe.

universal constants

Highlights the unchanging nature of these fundamental aspects.

principles of mechanics

Specifies one of the areas that fall under physical laws, mechanics.

thermodynamic principles

Focuses on laws specifically related to thermodynamics.

FAQs

How are "physical laws" different from scientific theories?

"Physical laws" are descriptive, summarizing observed regularities in nature, while scientific theories are explanatory, providing frameworks to understand why these laws hold true. For example, Newton's law of universal gravitation describes the attraction between masses, while general relativity ("general relativity") explains gravity as the curvature of spacetime.

What are some examples of fundamental "physical laws"?

Examples include the laws of thermodynamics, Newton's laws of motion, the law of universal gravitation, and the laws of electromagnetism. These laws are considered fundamental because they are universally applicable and form the basis for much of classical physics. They also relate to concepts like "conservation of energy" and "conservation of momentum".

Can "physical laws" be violated?

In the realm of classical physics, "physical laws" are generally considered inviolable under normal circumstances. However, in extreme conditions, such as those near black holes or at the quantum level, some laws may appear to be violated, leading to new scientific discoveries and refinements of existing theories. Quantum mechanics ("quantum mechanics") can be considered in this sense.

How do "physical laws" relate to the concept of determinism?

The concept of determinism suggests that all events are determined by pre-existing causes and "physical laws". If the initial conditions of a system are known, and the relevant laws are understood, the future state of the system can, in principle, be predicted. However, chaos theory ("chaos theory") and quantum mechanics introduce uncertainties that challenge this deterministic view.