classical physics

American  

[klas-ik-uhl fiz-iks] / ˈklæs ɪk əl ˈfɪz ɪks /

noun

1. physics as understood before the advent of quantum mechanics and the theory of relativity, or those aspects of contemporary physics that do not involve or rely on these theories.

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classical physics Scientific  

1. Physics that does not make use of quantum mechanics or the theory of relativity. Newtonian mechanics, thermodynamics, and Maxwell's theory of electromagnetism are all examples of classical physics. Many theories in classical physics break down when applied to extremely small objects such as atoms or to objects moving near the speed of light.

2. ◆ Classical mechanics refers to the classical physics of bodies and forces, especially Newton's laws of motion and the principles of mechanics based on them.

3. Compare quantum mechanics

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Other Word Forms

• classical physicist
  noun
• classical-physics
  adjective

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

classical physics

A quantum system, such as a group of qubits, follows the rules of quantum mechanics rather than classical physics.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 3, 2026

"What we show is that bringing these two concepts together can reveal hidden quantum signatures of time-flow that can no longer be described by classical physics."

From Science Daily ● May 18, 2026

But in daily life, ordinary objects such as rocks, dust, or marbles appear to follow the predictable laws of classical physics, staying in one place and moving along defined paths.

From Science Daily ● May 11, 2026

Unlike classical physics, which predicts precise trajectories for everyday objects such as cricket balls or communications satellites, quantum theory can only predict the likelihood of where a particle might be observed.

From Science Daily ● Mar. 10, 2026

Unfortunately for Einstein, the laws of quantum mechanics work incredibly well, and you can’t successfully explain quantum effects with traditional classical physics.

From "Zero: The Biography of a Dangerous Idea" by Charles Seife