What is Physicists: Definition and 445 Discussions

A physicist is a scientist who specializes in the field of physics, which encompasses the interactions of matter and energy at all length and time scales in the physical universe.
Physicists generally are interested in the root or ultimate causes of phenomena, and usually frame their understanding in mathematical terms.
Physicists work across a wide range of research fields, spanning all length scales: from sub-atomic and particle physics, through biological physics, to cosmological length scales encompassing the universe as a whole.
The field generally includes two types of physicists: experimental physicists who specialize in the observation of physical phenomena and the analysis of experiments, and theoretical physicists who specialize in mathematical modeling of physical systems to rationalize, explain and predict natural phenomena.
Physicists can apply their knowledge towards solving practical problems or to developing new technologies (also known as applied physics or engineering physics).

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  1. A

    What are some recommended books for improving mathematical physics skills?

    So I really want to get good at mathematical physics. Below is a list of books I could get from various libraries, but I don't know which one's I should start with and which to do next and so on. I currently understand intro CM, EM, and QM. My math skills are very basic (ODES as of now). I thank...
  2. C

    Is Charles Bennett one of the most prominent physicists alive?

    Is Charles Bennett one of the most prominent physicists alive?? I have been receantly introducing to quantum information and I have found that C. Bennett is almost in every publication or at least in a very considerable part of publications in information theory, which seems to be gaining a lot...
  3. S

    How do Physicists apply Vector Calculus to Physics?

    So, how do people, like physicists, or engineers, actually apply the concepts of vector calculus to their work. For example, if they want to calculate flux or something they need a vector field, how do they approximate that vector field? are their specific equations that can approximate vector...
  4. M

    What proportion of physicists are autistic?

    I just wondered. I'm applying to study physics at university next year and I was speaking to someone who has just started her PhD. I asked if it would matter at all that I have Asperger's (I have a couple of issue in certain situations but I'm pretty socially functional) and she sad that I...
  5. P

    Physicists Detect Elusive Orbiton By Splitting Electron

    Physicists Detect Elusive Orbiton By "Splitting" Electron "Condensed-matter physicists have managed to detect the third constituent of an electron — its 'orbiton'. Isolated electrons cannot be split into smaller components, earning them the designation of a fundamental particle. But in the...
  6. N

    Situation for Applied Physicists in Industry?

    I've heard a lot about the situation for physicists in industry (typical jobs they take, difficulty finding a job, salaries, best subfields to transition into industry, etc.) but how about APPLIED physicists (people who graduated with Phds in Applied Physics from programs such as Cornell or...
  7. K

    Physics Australian Physicists: Salary, Job Growth & Day-to-Day Work

    Greetings all, I need some advice from people who are currently working as physicists in Australia. I want to undertake a study of physics and work in the field, I am not entirely sure what specific area at the moment but it would probably be in particle physics or astrophysics or even...
  8. L

    Physics Do medical physicists understand anything about universe?

    Do medical physicists understand anything about universe like all other physicists or they just know only health (or medicine).
  9. S

    Physics How can physicists network and make connections for their career?

    I am creating this thread to gather the forums combined knowledge on networking and making connections for physics. So how do you guys do it, make friends at conferences, find buddies that you went to school with, graduate or even undergrad. Hit up random people on Internet forums? Make friends...
  10. Demystifier

    Where can I find an accessible resource on ergodicity for physicists?

    Textbooks on statistical mechanics usually discuss ergodicity only by words, without presenting any quantitative analysis (equations). On the other hand, serious discussions of ergodicity are usually written in a mathematically highly rigorous form, which is difficult to comprehend by...
  11. P

    I am aware that physicists are trying to derive born rule from unitary evolution

    I am aware that physicists are trying to derive born rule from unitary evolution. Has there been any success? What is the current status of that program?
  12. W

    C++ for High Energy Physics: Reference and Textbook Guide

    Hi all; I'm a physicist _High Energy Physics Major_ and i use some computer software that is based on C++ Programming Langauge such as (ROOT data analysis frame work - Pythia event generator) and i need a reference or textbook that learns me C++ effectively, i have some choices: 1)Object...
  13. L

    What do physicists refer to when they say a object is at a certain speed?

    Physicians Physicists oftenly state that it makes no sense to say that a certain object is moving at a certain speed if you do not have a reference point, but they do this very often. What is their referential point when they do not specify it?
  14. P

    Physics Are physicists underpaid or is it a misconception?

    Prior to researching physicist salaries I was under the impression that physicists compared to other occupations e.g. engineers are rather low payed. Though after some browsing I found that physicists, roughly earn ~$85k/year (AUD) and mechanical engineers for instance earn ~$84k/year (AUD)...
  15. ShayanJ

    What Do Mathematicians Think of Physicists Cancelling dx?

    In some places in physics like proving the wave equation,we see that the physicist divides the equation by dx or \partial x or maybe cancels some of them and then says with a smile:You shouldn't tell a mathematician! I want to know the ideas of mathematicians about that and want to know why...
  16. R

    By what equation do physicists use to measure the time before the CMB

    I'm reasonably convinced that physicists know what happened in the universe at certain temperatures: just find out what happens when you reach those temperatures in a particle accelerator. I still have yet to come across the equation that measures the time before the CMB and what the universe's...
  17. R

    Physics How many theoretical physicists are there

    I'm not interested in becoming a theoretical physicist, that would be ridiculous, but I am curious to know how many TP are there, how many PHD degrees are awarded each year, how many applicants are there for a PHD per year and how many applicants are there for a masters in theoretical physicists...
  18. Z

    A list of MUST-READ titles for future physicists

    Can anyone give me a short list of MUST-READ physics books? I mean books like for example Feynman's 'QED' and Hawking's 'A brief history of time'.
  19. K

    Greatest physicists of all time alive and dead

    I know this has been done to death already although i couldn't find a proper thread, most seem to degenerate into arguments. I want to know who, in your opinions is 1. the greatest physicist of all time 2. the greatest physicist alive 3. the greatest british physicist 4. the...
  20. D

    Music What kind of music do physicists listen to?

    I'm a bit interested in finding out – what kind of music do you enjoy? I'm just curious for the sake of knowledge in seeing the musical tastes of those in the sciences. So, if you would, post your favorite music (songs, bands, genres, whatever) and, if I'm not probing too much, your relation...
  21. O

    Is there any Physicists that think Free Energy could maybe be possible?

    Hello Again, I hope I don't come across as an a@# or worse! I have talked to a couple physicists and when you get to this subject they just shut down. "It is impossible so no more conversation!" I know it has been tried by much smarter people than me. I might look at things differently...
  22. M

    Physics Notable physicists and published papers

    we see many physicists have publsihed hundreds of papers like John Ellis, Edward Witten, Sankar Das sarma, ... how they can publish that number of papers with high impact factor i am very wondering
  23. C

    Why Are Physicists Shy & Antisocial?

    I think that that physicists are shy and antisocial, sometimes is much and sometimes is just a little. Some physicists have troubles when talking to girls in the case of men. It seems that there are not studies about this topic. Their behaviour and interaction with the world, socially speaking...
  24. C

    TOP 10 PHYSICISTS ALIVE (theoretical and experimental)

    I would like to read the opinion of the people in this forum given that (I think) the most part of the people here is related to physics. I have been searching in the web for a list of the most influential physicists alive or more brilliant, but the lists that I have found seem to be not so...
  25. M

    Advice on a good Mathematical Methods for Physicists Book?

    Advice on a good "Mathematical Methods for Physicists" Book? Hope this is the right area to be posting it in. I've checked out Tai Chow's book with the same title from my school library. There was a pretty brutal Amazon review on it, but overall I find it helpful. Does anyone have...
  26. A

    Engineering About engineering physicists (again)

    To put it short, I've considered studying E.P. at a good, state college. The program they have is good, and the college has a very good reputation too. However, I often ask myself: Is this program really worth it? I just feel that it is a degree that is not as useful to the industry as the...
  27. M

    Who are some inspiring physicists and recommended books for beginners?

    I'm pretty new to the wonderful world of physics! Who are some people I can look to for inspiration? Any book suggestions would be nice too- love to readddddddd. Mention some awesome women physicists too :) i know this is something i could just simply google, but i'd rather hear from you guys.
  28. B

    Physics What are the career prospects for physicists?

    If I were to be considering a career being a scientist (e.g. physicist), what would the career prospects be? Are there many jobs where you earn a sufficient amount of money to live on? And most important of all, I have heard there is very little job security, so people become employed quickly...
  29. S

    Engineering Career questions for nuclear engineers and experimental nuclear physicists.

    Hi! I'm currently doing a high school course regarding career paths, and for one task I have conduct an interview with someone who's working in a desired career. I'm unable to contact a nuclear engineer or an experimental nuclear physicist in person, so I was wondering if there were any of those...
  30. K

    How much Computer Science do physicists learn?

    How much Computer Science do physicists (both Physics professionals and students) learn? I'm aware that it is common for physicists (and mathematicians) to learn and do programming as part of their research (computational science/physics). But how extensive are their CS knowledge/training and...
  31. Loren Booda

    Are physicists more sensory than laypeople?

    Observers learn to conceptualize force, heat, electricity, relativity, uncertainty and other phenomena to appreciate the fundamentals of physics. Have you found tactility, imagination, the vestibular system and other perceptions to be indispensable for an empathetic understanding of physics...
  32. S

    Numerical analysis for physicists

    hi all I looking for physics article (direct link) to solve with Numerical analysis methods like: Euler and Heun methods; Runge-Kutta and predictor-corrector methods; systems of ordinary differential equations; boundary-value problems; finite-difference methods. wave equation; diffusion...
  33. C

    Physics Why would oil companies hire physicists?

    Why would major oil companies like Shell, Schlumberger and Exxon Mobil hire physics graduates and physicists? So I'll be starting my physics degree course this fall and I've heard plenty of people saying that a physics degree would definitely open doors to careers at oil companies. I don't...
  34. F

    How physicists handle the idea of Free Will?

    I have always been quite curious how physicists reconcile the concept free will with the determinism of physics. By determinism I mean the one at macroscopic level, because I know that at quantum level most of the things are based on probabilities. So there's no free will for an electron...
  35. dillmon

    Light Resonance: Conceptual Question for Physicists

    Hello Physicists, I don't have an actual math problem, just a conceptual one. I was wondering specifically about light resonance. If I understand resonance correctly, if one has two mirrors directly facing each other, one can create a standing wave. At a certain frequency of the light...
  36. T

    Rigorous Lie Group and Lie Algebra Textbooks for Physicists

    Hi everyone, I was just wondering if anyone had any suggestions of more-mathematically-rigorous textbooks on Lie groups and Lie algebras for (high-energy) physicists than, say, Howard Georgi's book. I have been eying books such as "Symmetries, Lie Algebras And Representations: A Graduate...
  37. L

    Any physicists / CS uncomfortable with less-explained math?

    I studied theoretical physics for BS, and the 5 years since I have a range of exposure to theoretical mathematics in analysis and combinatorics. Recently I looked into the notes on using Green's function to solve a particle in a 2D well. I cannot help notice how little Green's function is...
  38. S

    How is interference by longer path generally explained by physicists?

    The interference of light (or single particle photon) is as if the photon traveled all possible paths. now the something ("wave") traveling the longer path would arrive late and hence cannot interfere (timing issue). Yet the pattern shows interference. Some conclude that the past and...
  39. alexmahone

    MHB Why are the most famous scientists physicists and not mathematicians?

    World famous scientists like Newton, Einstein, Rutherford, Hawking are all physicists. However mathematicians like Gauss, Euler, Leibniz, Descartes etc are much less famous. Why is that? Is it because most people can relate to physics better than maths?
  40. F

    Garrett Lisi, the skill level of physicists, & multiverse/holographic theories.

    Garrett Lisi, the skill level of physicists, & multiverse/holographic theories Okay, so after 2 times of firefox crashing and me loosing my whole 1 hour long versions of my topic (2 hours wasted fyi lol) here it is in the express version. Two questions. Both have to do with Garrett Lisi...
  41. E

    Can I get some physicists opinion on this experiment

    Can I get some peoples opinion on this experiment. In this experiment I should clarify. The apparatus is initially at rest. The end spin of the apparatus will be the same in both experiments and in experiment 1 and 2 there will be two sources of torque acting on the apparatus- torque from the...
  42. I

    Do physicists know the Lebesgue integral?

    Do physicists in general have need of the Lebesgue integral? Are they taught it in graduate school?
  43. D

    Physics Physicists - A Few Issues to be Addressed

    What is the fundamental knowledge that the average, or above-average physicist must possess? Put simply, even a subject as rudimentary as undergraduate level classical mechanics teems with so many formulae and so many derivations that I find it incredibly mind-boggling that a physicist should...
  44. H

    Physics Exploring Career Paths for Spanish Physicists - Ector's Journey

    Hello, I am currently a spanish physics student from Imperial College London. I have been doing a lot of research about possible career paths. I talked with my personal tutor and we reached the conclusion that there are 4 main blocks, two more risky: opening a company or postdoc life, and two...
  45. F

    Can I Become a Physicists with a B.Eng?

    Hi everyone, I'm trying to figure out a few possible career options right now. If I decided to complete a Bachelor's of Engineering, would I still be able to pursue a doctorate or master's in physics and follow a physics oriented career path? I know of people who have taken master's of...
  46. N

    What do mathematical physicists work on?

    How do they differ from theoretical physicists? I was looking into arXiv papers in the mathematical physics portion and saw things like the physics of hoolahoops..I hope no offense is taken but I thought that was bit funny haha. On a more serious note, how are theoretical and mathematical...
  47. J

    So what are you physicists' opinions on psychedelic drugs?

    I think many people would expect that a physicist is more inclined than the average guy in the street to be able to see through the propaganda/fear-mongering of the government & mainstream media. Also it's reasonable to think that someone well versed in physics is going to have an curious mind...
  48. M

    Physics Exciting careers for physicists

    Now, I've still got a couple of years to go before I graduate but I have started thinking about my future. I enjoy physics, I really do. I know most people over here probably do too. The point is that while I enjoy working on experiments in a lab or doing theoretical work, I don't want my whole...
  49. X

    Do you think the world needs more theoretical physicists?

    I'm sure this was asked before on here. The title is pretty self explanatory. Personally I don't know a good answer to this question. On the one hand you'll have a group of people who are very smart and are exploring why nature is the way it is. Also if there are more theoretical physicist it...
  50. M

    Studying Can physicists do any physics problem from a university physics textbook?

    I'm a second year college student right now and I have decided to major in physics, it is the only subject I have taken so far that has provided me with a challenge (this semester). I am currently taking Physics 2 right now and I have got to say this class is really challenging, well not the...
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