@TheAstroChuck

@TheAstroChuck nah whenever I elaborate on topics like this always seem to get myself in trouble let's just say that I have situational ethics but I do believe in being kind to others as well as myself

@TheAstroChuck Yes, there is a distinction, as Matias pointed out. However, in my classes, I ask my students to ignore that distinction, and I use both terms interchangeably (So, in my opinion, it is +/- a moot point, as you suggested.) .
No philosophical term is easy to define, but the working definition I use is this: Ethics is the philosophical discipline that studies the ways we humans define "good" and "evil", "moral" and "immoral", "right" and "wrong".
Now, though I agree with 90% of Matias' comment, I myself do believe in ethical reflection, precisely because I also believe ALL philosophical/ethical/moral principles should and must be questioned.
Two more things:
If you have the time, I strongly recommend Nietzsche's work, if you want to know a little bit about the origins of Moral/Ethics.
Given that you are a physicist, can you tell us more about your interest in this topic?

@TheAstroChuck As Mr. Spock used to say: Fascinating!
I don't know which one is more difficult: To understand ourselves or to understand others, but at least in my case, I find it harder to understand others, specially those who proclaim they believe in "moral values", "sacred" books, and "principles", and then go out one fine day and vote for pathological liers and obviously immoral candidates.
Good luck in your quest.