Is Physics reducible to Mechanics?

Optics, Acoustic, Electricity, Magnetism, Electronics, Quantum, Thermodynamics, Astronomy, Relativity, etc.

 

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My first guess would be, "Yes."

 

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I'd say "no", because physics is more fundamental, as in: mechanics is a part of physics. A lot of things in physics are captured by mechanics, sure, but not everything. (Quantum) fields would be an example. Take this note on Wikipedia:
'Note that there is also the "theory of fields" which constitutes a separate discipline in physics, formally treated as distinct from mechanics, whether classical fields or quantum fields.'
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mechanics#Sub_-_disciplines

(It does go on to say: "But in actual practice, subjects belonging to mechanics and fields are closely interwoven." but that only puts mechanics and physics at an equal level. It certainly does not make physics reducible to mechanics; rather, it would be the other way around.)

Please enlighten me how (for example) magnetism could be explained purely in terms of mechanics. And what do you mean by "quantum" (full stop)?

 

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I'd say it depends what you mean by "mechanics". If that is taken to include quantum mechanics, statistical mechanics and relativistic mechanics, then maybe the answer is yes.

And then be careful what you infer from that. Quantum mechanics, for instance, is specifically not deterministic.

 

Can we refer to the Mechanics of waves?
Optics, Acoustics

Mechanics of electron and particles?
Electricity, Electronics, Magnetism, Quantum, Thermodynamics

Space Mechanics?
Astronomy, Relativity

 

Yes, one can.

 

Again, what do you mean by "Quantum"? "Quantum" isn't a theory or a field of physics. "Quantum field theory" is. "Quantum mechanics" is. "Quantum" isn't.

 

I'm taking about Quantum mechanics, of course.

 

Seems that all those universal aspects, except Particles and Relativity are covered by Bohm's Pilot wave theory (Bohmian Mechanics)

This is where Bohm's Pilot Wave theory is so powerful.
The maths are a little more complicated, but the result does away with the need for "particle/wave" duality, which has been the greatest dilemma in physics. If I understand it correctly, matter remains as matter, the "guiding wave" directs its spacetime coordinate position.

http://www.informationphilosopher.com/solutions/scientists/heisenberg/Copenhagen_Interpretation.pdf

Bohm's theory answers to all of the Copenhagen Interpretation, plus it yields a perfectly "deterministic" universe and allows for "entanglement".

 

Well, in that case, of course quantum mechanics can be referred to as mechanics: it's literally in the name!

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The way I see it.

Mechanics is the science that studies movement and the cause that produces it. There are many kinds of movement.

Movement is the change of place or position of some body.

 

In that case, electrostatics is a clear demonstration there is more to physics than mechanics, and thus physics is not reducible to mechanics.

 

Question: Do electrostatic charges create "fields"?
If so is that not a form of mechanics?

Mechanics of Fields?

 

Please re-read the first part of post #3 for your answer.

 

I did read and understand your post.
To my knowledge there is nothing in the universe which is stationary. Even Fields are dynamic.

I base this on the following definition;

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dynamical_system

 

Irrelevant. The point is that fields are not described by mechanics, but by field theories. In fact, doubly irrelevant, because we're talking about physics (the model/description), not the universe (reality).​