Physicists Definition and 436 Threads

Hello all, I will freely admit I suffer from Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, and now that it is well managed I tend to attach my obsessions over interest. One thing I tend to obsess about is the possibility of aliens. I think about the fact that us humans are the only technological creatures on...

Hi everybody! I was wondering how much importance there is in studying pure math, for the budding theoretical physicist? mathematical physicist? Also I was wondering whether a mathematical physicist would work more on mathematical methods that physicists can use or do work like Einstein...

Hello everybody, this is my first post. I was wondering, what math a physicist needs. I know about the mathematical methods books, but I was hoping to learn as much math as I can rigorously. (I find it fascinating) So what kind of course sequence would encompass a lot of the math needed...

Hi. I've been looking into a possible career in physics once I graduate high school, and I was wondering which types of physicists study dark matter? I have heard astrophysicists do, but are there any others? Sorry if this question is in the wrong place, I've never posted anything before...

I've been contemplating the possibility of pursuing a minor (or maybe even a dual major, but probably not) in Computer Science to go along with my Physics major. But I must wonder, is it worth it? Will it help me at all when I look for a job in tens of millions of years after getting a PhD...

Hi All, I want to run some small nuclear transmutation experiments for a nuclear battery project. However, my knowledge of nuclear physics is very theoretical and I was looking to get mentored by a physicist or nuclear engineer who has experience with working with radiation sources. Here is...

Hi, this is weird but I honestly love to be busy and a lot of work to do and I was hoping for a job that doesn't just end at the workplace and I feel like physics is a good fit but I just want to ask. I know physicists are passionate about their work just as I am even though I'm only a high...

I'm giving a presentation to a group next week made up of mathematicians, physicists and mechanical engineers. My talk is going to be related to my work so it's going to be very biology based. I want to start the talk pointing out that life science and the physical sciences are very different in...

Seems like most have been to observational astronomers, and experimental solid state people generally. Would it be possible for a physicist whose main focus in research was computational to win a Nobel Prize?

Can anyone recommend a good book that teaches calculus (particularly integral calculus) in a way that is specifically applicable to applications in physics? I'm looking for something to help me review and solidify the calculus I have already learned but I get lost in all of the formalism that...

What jobs can a Nuclear Physicist get that involves actual research? I am interested in the field and wish to do a PhD in it however, I don't really want to stay in academia (low pay, publish or perish etc.). So are there any industry jobs a Nuclear Physicist could do? Other? Also if possible...

I had dinner with my Physics Professor ( it's one of those student-faculty dinners organised by the school), and he told me that ( and I am para-phrasing as closely as I can remember ) that "most Physics PHDs can get a job in Physics if they want to, but many don't want to " -- > be it low...

I'm a PhD student in theoretical physics, and I am just amazed by how much physicists working in my field actually know. I am currently studying QFT and plan on going a bit deeper into General Relativity afterwards, but look at people like Rovelli or Susskind (just two names that came to my...

From your own experience do you think being a scientist or a science student has helped you attract beautiful girls? Discuss.

I know physicists use measurement tools to measure things from speed to capacitance, but a lot of people tell me that physicists have hands on work.....where is this hands-on work? Besides doing the math and measuring data in experiments, what do physicists do that can be considered hands-on work?

I'm studying physics II, programming and maths atm. I always wanted to go for physics but I really have cravings for technology stuff like electrical engineering. I always had love for physics but school sort of systematically killed it and I am seeing more freedom in the programming/tech...

Which contemporary physicists in theoretical or experimental physics do you think should be included in the group of the Top 10? You do not have to rank them within the group. I just want to identify leading physicists, their research groups and geographical hot areas for QM, like the...

I've always wondered do mathematical physicists tend to normally have a rigorous training in physics? I know (at least at most universities) mathematical physics is grouped under the math department rather than the physics department. So what training in physics do these individuals actually...

Before quantum mechanics and relativity were incorporated into the physics curriculum, what did physicists go to grad school for? It seems like classical mechanics, thermodynamics (I believe stat mech was not well developed at the time), and electromagnetism were the only things that were...

Researchers in fluid mechanics: "engineers", "Physicists" ? Dear all, I was reading the book "Turbulent flows" of S. Pope and I went to his website at Cornell and started to see his work. In case you do not know him, I can tell you that his work is 100% applied mathematics and fluid physics...

I am going to take part in a Physics contest in which I must present a Physical phenomenon. I chose to present the light-duality phenomenon. I created this thread so I can gather some information, and understand how things happened. What I have until now: Waves Vs Particles Waves...

So how does one create a formula. I've seen that it starts with proportionalities and constants, but how does one connect a constant to a proportionality? Can you provide a step by step example?

From reading this thread, it demonstrates a rather pessimistic view of physics (at least in relation to job employment). Would you say that similar job prospects are true, not only for cosmologists but even condensed matter physicists?

If I become a physicist and got my Ph.D in physics can I work more experimentally and application based?

As a physicist... Would you like to fund your own research? Lets say that you are a brilliant physicist—applies to any scientists in general—and working on a research while running a business, and you have the ability to fund and build laboratories. I want to hear what people think of that...

Do applied physicists do scientific research and experiments to create new technology or do they do more engineering type work? I guess the real question is do applied physicists do work that more resembles pure physicists or engineers?

If I was a physicist and did research on superconductors can I apply it and make a product or a prototype on my own?

I know a lot of the technology (if not all) draws back to physics but what can physicists do to solve world problems and issues?

Homework Statement Derive the equation of motion of a particle of mass m and charge q moving in three dimensional space under a Coulombic attraction toward a fixed center. I have the answer for a plane but a i need it for the space Homework Equations Mathematical Methods for...

I think I've decided on this career field (I really love physics and coding) with electrical engineering as my backup in case I change my mind. Is there anyone out there who is either on their degree track or has a career in that can give me info on their thoughts/experiences/projects you work...

Hello I am new to the Physics Forum and recently I am thinking of choosing an engineering major, but I am having some question about the jobs of engineers. My dream is to use the rules and laws of physics to invent and create things that are useful in life (I know it is not easy to really...

Hi, I am currently developing a calculator for physicists which can be very simply opened in a web browser, without the need to install anything, or even be online. The repository is currently on Github here and can be freely accessed (click the download zip button at the bottom right...

Hello, I am a senior undergraduate (USA) who wants to go to graduate school for either engineering or experimental physics. I am an A/B student and have taken all the recommended classes as if I was preparing to apply to physics graduate schools. I am not sure I am satisfied with an...

suppose you are just about to read a book about some new mathematical subject. but you didn't start at page one. instead you open up to the middle of the book. and of course in that page you see lines upon lines of equations and symbols. do you get intimidated?

OMD- Electricity http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6zkMARyxPXw I picture myself with a thinking cap on and banging away on a xylophone Blue Oyster Cult- Astronomy Imaginos Version http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SY7h4VEd_Wk Obvious reasons Tool- Lateralus...

What's with this "We physicists" stuff? I know people have joked about this before on this site, but still, everytime I hear it, I cringe. I don't understand the psychology of this. I mean, I'm sitting down just a short while ago, having a nice, informal virtual dialog with my friend Sean...

Im considering a career in Theoretical Physics. In terms of jobs what opportunities would I have after my Bachelors , my Masters and then after my PHD. What is the most typical pattern followed by most people going into physics? Job after Masters or before it? and what is the future like for...

I know of mainly two famous physicists who came from a distinguishly mathematical background: Freeman Dyson Roger Penrose I'm sure there have been many, many, many others, so could anyone name me some more physicists who came from a mathematics background?

Although it's not my area of expertise I sometimes like to delve into a bit of Psychology. I came across the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator(mbti) a while ago and liked finding connections between it and other areas such as political affiliation. I was wondering if anyone here thought that there...

Hi folks -- I am a non-physicist writing a popular piece on particle physics and I have a couple of questions which I suspect will be very easy for you. Any answers would be massively appreciated! (1) Am I right in thinking that the brunt of what particle physicists predict is the...

(Note: This is probably the wrong place for this, but I wasn't sure where to post this) What are some examples of when politics and physics research coincided or had strong direct impacts on each other? For example: Napoleon and Laplace/Poisson Catholic church and Galileo WW2 and the...

So I was thinking, I never heard about gravitational potential, yet there is such a big deal about electrical potential. Why is it so much more important that voltage be taught, yet no mention of its gravitational analog?

Now it's very easy to write mathematical symbols and print them but how the physicists like Einstein, Schrodinger, Dirac, Haisenberg, Bohr and others at that time were writting papers. How people were writting any books that include mathematical symbols at all? What kind of technology did they use?

Do professional physicists think in mathematical equations? Do they think in these mathematical equations first, and then come to a conclusion based on that math? Or do they think intuitively or visually about something first, then come to a conclusion, and only later prove it mathematically...

With the tools and knowledge we have today, if the great minds were still alive today, do you think we would be any further ahead of where we are today. What new discoveries could have possibly been solved. Also sinse Einstein, who else has revolutionised the way we think about a certain...

Author: C.J. Isham Title: Modern Differential Geometry for Physicists Amazon Link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/9810235623/?tag=pfamazon01-20 Table of Contents: An Introduction to Topology Preliminary Remarks Remarks on differential geometry Remarks on topology Metric Spaces The...

Author: George B. Arfken (Author), Hans J. Weber (Author), Frank E. Harris (Author) Title: Mathematical Methods for Physicists Amazon Link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0123846544/?tag=pfamazon01-20 Prerequisities: Calculus 1,2,3 Table of Contents: Preface Vector Analysis Definitions...

Hi all, My name is Jamie and I am currently living in The United Kingdom. I am a web-developer and work closely together with a designer and together we have always been very interested in physics and theories as well as astronomics and the universe greatest questions! We have not...

physics, of course, is a broad subject with many fields within it, but who do you consider your top 3 most influential/top living physicists in the world.

So, I've come to the end of my undergraduate education, and am a bit stuck on the next step to take. Quick background: I'm a physics major with a math minor, and have but one semester to go until I graduate in December 2013 (will be done with physics and math by spring 2013 but due to a...