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In natural language and physical science, a physical object or material object (or simply an object or body) is a contiguous collection of matter, within a defined boundary (or surface), that exists in space and time. Usually contrasted with abstract objects and mental objects.[1][2]
Also in common usage, an object is not constrained to consist of the same collection of matter. Atoms or parts of an object may change over time. An object is usually meant to be defined by the simplest representation of the boundary consistent with the observations. However the laws of physics only apply directly to objects that consist of the same collection of matter.
In physics, an object is an identifiable collection of matter, which may be constrained by an identifiable boundary, and may move as a unit by translation or rotation, in 3-dimensional space.
Each object has a unique identity, independent of any other properties. Two objects may be identical, in all properties except position, but still remain distinguishable. In most cases the boundaries of two objects may not overlap at any point in time. The property of identity allows objects to be counted.
Examples of models of physical bodies include, but are not limited to a particle, several interacting smaller bodies (particulate or otherwise). Discrete objects are in contrast to continuous media.
The common conception of physical objects includes that they have extension in the physical world, although there do exist theories of quantum physics and cosmology which arguably challenge[how?] this. In modern physics, "extension" is understood in terms of the spacetime: roughly speaking, it means that for a given moment of time the body has some location in the space (although not necessarily amounting to the abstraction of a point in space and time). A physical body as a whole is assumed to have such quantitative properties as mass, momentum, electric charge, other conserved quantities, and possibly other quantities.
An object with known composition and described in an adequate physical theory is an example of physical system.
- ^ Oxford English Dictionary, "Physical object (n.),” September 2024. "Philosophy. Originally: a concrete object that exists in space and time, esp. one perceivable through the senses. Now also: any spatio-temporal object; any object amenable to study by the physical sciences. Often contrasted with objects that are abstract (propositions, numbers, etc.) or mental (ideas, intentions, etc.)."
- ^ Oxford English Dictionary, “Material object (n.),” September 2024. "A thing made or consisting of matter, a physical object; (Philosophy) an object having a real physical existence independent of mind or consciousness."