physicalObjects

PhysicalObjects are tangible entities that occupy space and possess mass. They contrast with abstract ideas, digital data, and other non-material phenomena. The term is used across disciplines such as physics, engineering, inventory management, and museology to refer to real-world items that can be observed, measured, or manipulated. In computing and data modeling, physicalObject may denote a real object represented within software systems.

Core properties of physicalObjects include mass, volume, shape, size, material composition, density, and surface characteristics such as color and texture. They may exist in a particular state of matter (solid, liquid, gas) and have attributes like temperature and electrical or magnetic properties. Their identity is usually tied to boundaries and continuity in space over time, or to a persistent reference in a catalog.

Objects interact with forces and with other objects. They undergo motion under the influence of gravity, contact forces, and friction; energy can be exchanged or transformed during interactions. Measurements of position, orientation, and motion are fundamental for applications in physics, engineering, robotics, and computer simulations.

In information systems, physicalObjects are often modeled as entities with attributes and behaviors in object-oriented design. They can be tracked in inventories, used in simulations, or rendered in augmented/virtual reality. Examples range from a rock or book to a chair, a vehicle, or a laboratory instrument.

Understanding physicalObjects helps bridge empirical observation with theoretical models across science and industry.