What is Experience: Definition and 466 Discussions

Experience is the process through which conscious organisms perceive the world around them. Experiences can be accompanied by active awareness on the part of the person having the experience, although they need not be. Experience is the primary subject of various subfields of philosophy, including the philosophy of perception, the philosophy of mind, and phenomenology.
Several different senses of the word "experience" should be distinguished from one another. In the sense of the word under discussion here, "experience" means something along the lines of "perception", "sensation", or "observation". In this sense of the word, knowledge gained from experience is called "empirical knowledge" or "a posteriori knowledge". This can include descriptive knowledge (e.g. finding out that certain things are true based on sensory experience), procedural knowledge (e.g. learning how to perform a particular task based on sensory experience), or knowledge by acquaintance (e.g. familiarity with certain people, places, or objects based on direct exposure to them).
In ordinary language, the word "experience" may instead sometimes refer to one's level of competence or expertise, either in general or confined to a particular subject. In this sense of the word, "experience" generally refers to know-how rather than descriptive knowledge (or in other words, on-the-job training rather than book-learning). This article is not about "experience" in this sense, but is instead about the immediate perception of events.

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  1. Elimelech70

    I Is it only experience that's relative?

    Reading Einstein Relativity. The trains experiences lightening strikes differently to the embankment. So the two events are experienced differently from the two reference points because they have different distances to the events. Light from the events taking different times to reach each...
  2. phyzguy

    Anybody with experience with SciPod?

    Hi all. I've been approached by SciPod to contribute a short video on my work. Has anyone here done this? Are they reputable? Are they worth the effort? Here's a link: https://www.scipod.global/
  3. Smitnak

    Engineering What kinds of jobs can a vibration engineer with this experience?

    Hello guys, I've been searching job to my father. Because the economical situation of the country he wants to find a foreign job. -He has 20+ years working as an director of vibration analysis and diagnosis company who himself founded. -He has 20+ years working as mechanical engineer teacher...
  4. PhysPaig

    Admissions Chances with a Low/mid GPA but high PGRE and research experience

    Hello, and thanks so much in advance for any advice. I’m currently a third year physics undergraduate student who’s looking for what programs I should apply to for my PhD. I’m not sure I should bother applying for anything top 20 but wanted to get a second opinion on my applications...
  5. I

    Admissions Research experience for physics grad school application

    Hi my name is Idan. I plan to study for a physics Bachelor at Israel, my homeland. although is way too early I'd like to proceed towards higher education as well, particularly in the US. The problem is that in Israel there is no physics internships and research projects offered for students at...
  6. K

    B Experience Travel on a Photon: Hitch-Hiker's Guide to the Universe

    We know that as speed increases, time slows, and at the speed of light time apparently ceases. Imagine a hypothetical hitch-hiker sitting on a photon and speeding through the universe at -- well, the speed of light. If time has stopped for him (her?), what is his experience of his journey? Are...
  7. Melbourne Guy

    Any experience with curved 4K HD 34" monitors?

    Does anyone use a curved 34" 4K HD monitor with Windows 10? I've been thinking about upgrading my WFH office, which has two 24" HD monitors, one of which is on the fritz, but it's a narrow space so I'm wondering whether the higher res and expanse of the monitor means you need to sit further back...
  8. NatanijelVasic

    3D Cinema Glasses: An Unsolved Personal Experience

    Many years ago I went to the cinema to watch Avatar in 3D, and was provided with polarising 3D glasses at the venue. I can't remember if it was my first 3D film that involved polarising projection technology, but it was certainly one of my first. In any case, the 3D effect worked and I got...
  9. P

    I Experience based on Millikan's experiment

    Hello! As I said in the summary, this is inspired by Millikan's experiment. Suppose you have 19 (closed) packages, all filled with different quantities of the same unknown object (which has a mass of m). You then weigh these packages one by one. How could you estimate the mass "m" of that...
  10. bo reddude

    B Why doesn't the Earth at the equator experience a sonic boom?

    The Earth's circumference at the equator is 24,901 miles, or 40.075 million meters. It rotates completely once a day or in 86400 seconds. The speed of sound is 343 m/s and the Earth moves at the equator at 40.075 million m/86400 s = 463.831019 m / s which is clearly faster than the speed of...
  11. bigfooted

    What is your experience with estimating student workload?

    I recently was asked to create some new exercises for a course that are more suited for online learning. It is a grad-level course and involves working in an online environment (jupyter) and doing some exercises on specific physics concepts using python. They were given working examples that...
  12. T

    BSc in Meteorology with no experience -- Is it reasonable to look for international jobs?

    Summary:: I'm a portuguese citizen, holding a BSc in Meteorology, Oceanography and Geophysics, and I've been applying for job opportunities related to weather forecasting, internationally. I have no experience in it whatsoever, and I would probably require sponsoring. Is it reasonable to...
  13. danielhaish

    B Photon Energy Change: Speed of Light

    photos are in the speed of light which means that the fasts change in photons energy would take infinite time for the outside observer so does it means that the photons can't spin or interact with each other or have any kind of change
  14. V

    Grad school with no Physics GRE but research experience?

    Due to not having any money after financial aid this semester (also covid, no job, etc.) I don't have money to afford to take the physics GRE. I do however work in a lab as a research assistant and have research experience. I'd like to get into a school for astrophysics potentially. Any...
  15. hdt21

    First-Year Undergraduate Nuclear Fusion Advice for Experience?

    Hello! I'm a newbie here, so I apologize if I posted this in the wrong area of if this has already been answered. I'm a Mechanical engineering major at Georgia Tech (but I'll probably switch to Engineering Physics). Nonetheless, I'm very intrigued by the prospect of nuclear fusion and would...
  16. wrobel

    A The unwinding coil (teaching experience sharing)

    It is just for teaching experience sharing. Consider a uniform disk. A stretchless and massless wire has been wound on the disk. The end of the wire is attached to the ceiling. Initially the system is at rest as it is shown at the picture. Then the disk is released. It falls down and rotates and...
  17. f95toli

    Experience of electronic lab notebook systems?

    I was wondering if someone has any experience of using a "large-scale" ELN system for experimental physics (mainly)? That is, ELNs that are used throughout an organisation to ensure compliance, proper handover etc Where I work there is now a discussion about buying a site-wide ELN to replace...
  18. N

    Other Relearning Math: Comparing Resources for the Best Learning Experience

    Hey guys, first post. This might get sort of long, so brace yourselves. tl;dr at the end. I’m a college student who just finished up the semester and has 4 months (and any free time during the following school year) to go all out and relearn all of the fundamentals of math up to but excluding...
  19. T

    Other How to get research experience even though I’m in a unique situation?

    I received a bachelors degree in physics in 2018 . Due to circumstances out of my control , I did not learn as much physics and math as I should have. My grades were very mediocre , but I realized later that I was being pushed through the system because I was a first generation minority student...
  20. H

    Engineering Projects and live experience

    Hey, I hope everyone is doing well. Let's self-quarantine and protect our world from this pandemic. As we have lots of spare time, I just thought of sharing some latest experience I had. I'm doing my master's in Petrochemical engineering. Last month I just visited a company that provides forged...
  21. AryaKimiaghalam

    Admissions Research Experience for Graduate School

    Hi, I am a physics major in my second year . So far, i did not do any research and with the current Coronavirus situation, getting into a research program in my university is unlikely (since most of them are experimental). I had some questions about the research experience of graduate school...
  22. Ackbach

    LaTeX Experience Mathpix Snip: Effortless $\rm\LaTeX$ Equation Creation

    The Mathpix Snip tool is quite impressive. I recommend you check it out! It could save you a lot of effort in trying to write $\rm\LaTeX$ code.
  23. Eclair_de_XII

    Math There are no job sites for STEM majors with no experience, are there?

    I'm currently living in Hawaii, and am having trouble finding good work. I have been using Indeed without much success at all. I also know about Monster and Glassdoor, but I tend to want to stick to just one generic job-hunting site. I recently found a job site associated apparently with the...
  24. F

    Classical Textbook Suggestions for a Physics Student with Little Experience

    Hello everyone! Before I begin, I would like to thank you for helping me by responding or just being intrigued by this. I’m a high school student who wants to basically have a very deep understanding of classical mechanics (for f=ma exam and ultimately my dream). My only experience with physics...
  25. S

    Thinking of a PhD based on undergrad research experience

    Hi everyone, I am a final-year undergraduate in Physics. I actually created this account purely to ask for some advice. I have been considering pursuing a physics PhD ever since my first year, but my current experience in my final-year project (FYP) has been difficult and I'm wondering if this...
  26. A

    Engineering Resume improvement -- How best to word this experience?

    Hi I wrote a code in a specific topic, for example, Molecular dynamics How can I state it in my resume? "Code development of water transport through a carbon nanotube with the molecular dynamics method." "Molecular dynamics simulation of water transport through a carbon nanotube." OR? If...
  27. T

    How many G forces did I experience during my head hit?

    Hi, I just hit my head on the top of my car door as I was leaving my car; the hit hurt my head a lot and I am worried that I received a concussion. However, I read that most concussions require more than 65 Gs of force to be classified a concussion which is why I am wondering if someone here...
  28. PGaccount

    Share your experience in quitting smoking

    Can anyone share their experience? I don't get cravings when I don't have access to it. But when I have access, I don't seem to be able to stop. i recently quit for 2 days, started again and I finally quit today for good
  29. W

    Any Experience with SQL Server Dev + Python& ML Server?

    Hi all, Curious if anyone has worked with SQL Server Dev 2017 with ML and Python Server, i.e., with the full data analysis platform and what your experiences are.
  30. H

    I Would distinguishable particles experience bonding?

    The book explains covalent bonding is due to exchange forces of attraction, which isn't a real force but the last term in [5.22]. This term arises due to electrons being indistinguishable particles. If electrons were distinguishable, there would be no exchange forces. Then, would there still be...
  31. C

    How do I gain creative experience in engineering?

    Summary: (undergrad student) What is something I can do this summer to develop my creative instinct in engineering? Hey everyone! I am currently an undergrad freshman studying mechanical engineering. I love the courses and I understand the scientific concepts, but I know that engineering is a...
  32. B

    I What is the experience of a photon?

    I’m watching TV. An excited electron in an LED in the screen falls back to its normal energy state, releasing a quantum of electromagnetic energy in the form of a photon. Let’s call this event ‘A’ (x1, y1, z1, t1). The wave packet of this photon fills the universe (quantum mechanics). Across the...
  33. entropy1

    I MWI experience of created worlds

    Would this be correct: in MWI, if a binary measurement is made, the world splits, say in world A and B. Is it then correct to say that you experience both A and B, but that the experiences of A and B become separated?
  34. DHO232

    I Does a photon experience time while interacting with the weak force?

    Long time reader, first time posting here in physics forums. I know that according to relativity photons have no proper time. I also know that a photon of sufficient energy can interact with a nucleus's nuclear force via the weak interaction resulting in pair production. I was looking at a...
  35. Haorong Wu

    Other Is it difficult to apply for a PhD in physics without experience?

    Hi. I’m currently self-learning physics and hopefully will apply for a PhD in physics, but there are some problems troubling me. I received my BS. and MS. degrees in EE in China. I’ve been working for five years since then. From high school, my two major interests are physics and computer...
  36. P

    Physics Going back for a masters, or is work experience just as good

    I am just looking for some opinions. I have been considering going to get my masters in Material Science (I have a B.S. in physics). I currently have a great job in the field, and it teaches me a ton. When getting my masters, I would keep the job, and they would even pay for a lot of it. I can't...
  37. Zack K

    Other Best way to get research experience for astrophysics?

    I'm currently studying in a Canadian University(SFU). I've come to notice that the astronomy/physics portion here is lacking. There are a few astrophyics/cosmology research teams but they are small and encompass a few graduate students. I'm a first year, I really want to get involved in research...
  38. Z

    Why do alpha particles experience large angle deflections?

    Homework Statement I would like to understand why alpha particles experience large angle deflections and if this is the same thing as recoil of alpha particles? Do large angle deflections occur near the end of the alpha particle track or can they occur at any point along the trajectory...
  39. Cantor080

    I Existence of experience related to i

    If we have solution of an equation as x=1, it may be expressing, depending on context, 1 apple, 1 excess certain thing, etc. And, if we have solution of an equation as x=-1, it may be expressing, depending on context, 1 deficient apple, 1 deficient certain thing, etc. Is there any experience...
  40. R

    Other Anyone have any experience with preprints? (Format question)

    Hi, I am currently looking for employment whilst finishing my PhD, I have a published review but I have not yet published my experimental papers. Since they are near completion (well, one of them) I am hoping (if my supervisor let's me) to release a preprint. I would like to ask anyone who has...
  41. M

    Engineering How age and experience matter when getting a job?

    I'm 31 years old & going to enter into 2nd year of BEng mech. Degree which has 3 years.I already have diploma in marine engineering & have sailed on ocen going ships for 1 year as junior engineer.Is the first is better? (1.Is 1 year experience on ships can relate to mechanical experience...
  42. astroman707

    Other Any physicists that struggled with intro physics?

    I’m 3 weeks into my first physics class at college; honors physics 1. I really want to major in physics because it’s really interesting, but I’m finding the class very difficult. Trying to solve the textbook problems and follow the professor’s train of thought is very tough, which is frankly...
  43. N

    Experience as Evidence: Forum Debate

    Are there any on the forum that think that what you experience is no evidence of reality? Or is it evidence? For example can you tell from your experience that reality is not one in whichno part experiences? Is that a simple truth that those on the forum agree upon, or are there those on the...
  44. YoungPhysicist

    B Is Time Experienced by Photons at the Speed of Light?

    As far as I know, a object will experience time slower when its speed is close to the speed of light. But photons themselves moves at the speed of light, does that mean that they experience no time?
  45. R

    I Do elementary particles experience gravity?

    For example, do electrons, atoms etc. experience gravity? Is this proved by experiment?
  46. L

    Physics Looking For Research Experience in the future

    Hi all, I am a coming Year 4 Student majoring in physics in Asia. I started to think about my career path in the coming year, one thing for sure is that I would definitely go for a M.Phil Degree in my school that I am studying at right now. I have been thinking to go for PhD at oversea, such as...
  47. A

    Programs Gaining Research Experience as a Mathematics Major

    So I am about to switch to mathematics, as I absolutely adore pure mathematics as well as applied mathematics and I cannot stand learning mathematics without going deep into rigor of it for now(I am aware however that at times one just has to quickly learn sth to proceed with a project). But in...
  48. F

    Schools Experience as a non degree student to get into grad school?

    Has anyone ever became a non degree student/special status student at university to get better grades in undergraduate courses so you can apply to a PH.D program? What was this like? Did you receive financial aid? What classes did you take? How many semester did you do? Did you get into graduate...
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