Theoretical physics Definition and 543 Threads

If I'm interested in going to grad school to do theoretical physics how much math am I expected to pick up as an undergrad? I know theory requires a lot more math than experiment but how much more and do I need to do it while I'm still an undergrad or will I be able to pick it up along the way...

What are in your opinion the most interesting areas or topics in foundational physics? (that have or could have profound philosophical implications) I want to see what's out there.

Hi all, my situation is as follows: I'd like to pursue a career in research in the absurdly competitive field of theoretical physics. I'm 3/4 of the way through an MSci in Physics and Maths from Durham in the UK and at present, I'm *JUST* on course for a 1st class degree (Not sure what that is...

I'm starting CMU in about a month and I ultimately want to get a PhD and do research. My dream is to work on theoretical physics and I wanted to know what you guys think about what classes I should make sure I take while I am an undergraduate. I don't know if I am smart enough to work on...

Well, to get straight to the point, I've got a BSc in electrical engineering and have developed an interest in theoretical physics. Since string theory and theoretical physics in general is heavy on math I was wondering if a possible way into the field of theoretical physics might be an MSc in...

Hey it's me again. I'm at the stage now where I'm practically picking universities to apply to & courses and the one problem that I'm having trouble with now is theoretical/straight physics. Would taking theoretical physics affect my chances of post-graduate in terms of research? I know...

Hi Everyone, I don't know what kind of my message is so I post it here as it is matter of physics. In fact, I am a UG Students who had just finished my First year. I am so impressed by the "thought experiment" , the "theoretical approach to physics" and "The expression of natural phenomenon...

As I think this would be the right place to ask, I'd like to know what's the best university on Earth that teaches (theoretical) physics and mathematics, which I both want to study, because I want to become a theoretical physicist. What would be the minimum requirements (also diplomas) to be...

I have been wondering what some of the big problems in theoretical physics and astrophysics are. Through some research I have not been able to find a whole lot of them, I am starting to think that this means we have a good grasp on understanding the universe but then I realize that this can't...

Hi my friends, I comes from China, and I want some English math textbook for undergraduate student in theoretical physics, contains Advanced Mathematics, Linear Algebra, Statistics and Probability Theory, Method of Mathematical Physics, any suggestion pls?

Hello everyone, I am a junior in aerospace engineering student at Georgia Tech, and out of my boredom for the month that I have off I have begun to be interested in theoretical physics, I was wondering if there were some good books to read at my level. Of course with AE, there is a lot of...

I am an undergraduate physics major preparing to enter my senior year. My college requires all physics students to complete a significant and original piece of research; mine will be an examination of the antiferromagnetic Potts model using the multiple histogram method. Much of this and the...

* In 1928, PHYSICIST and nobel prize winner Max. born told a group of visitors to gottingen university "physics , as we know it, will be over in six months".His confidence was based on recent discovery by DIRAC of the equation that governed the electron.It was thought that a similar equation...

It seems we have come to a point where Einstein's concerns regarding the loss of the "broad horizon" has become a reality. There is a fractal like dispersion of tenable theories to such an extent that there is no solid ground in theoretical areas in general - only in each specialised area...

Does anybody know of any good and easy to understand books over theoritical fields in physics (i.e. quantum phyiscs, particle physics, general realitivity, etc.)? I'm really interested into reading in on those topics right now, so I would apperciate your help. Thanks!

If I start with basic algebra, I get rules that suggest; 1x+1x=2x Then I consider the 'no end' scenario, and say that if x is infinite; 1x+1x=1x And so I decide that infinity is a 'special case'. Then I get really clever and use something called set theory, which is pretty...

What kind of job can you get as a theoretical physicst?

Hi, right now I am a grade 11 student in Ontario, Canada. I've been captivated by theoretical physics for some time now and I really want to try persuing a career in it (ideally in string theory/ other beyond the standard model stuff but anything in quantum mechanics would still be great). So my...

I'm looking for graduate courses with focus on non-string theoretical physics beyond the standard model (or at least, courses preparing for research in that field). I'm also open to string content, but I find other approaches more intriguing. Recently I came across Imperial College's MSc course...

hi to all i read stuff on theoretical physics especially GUT's and also read littlephilosophy but i keep wondering why is it that people even study these things when we all know that they will have close to zero applications in the real world. also money is spent on all these things like the...

I have to choose what I want to do in university and I was wondering how smart you have to be to do theoretical physics. I do maths , applied maths and physics in school and I'm good at all of them. Any help is very much appreciated.

I am a 25 year old high school teacher who wishes to further his understanding of physics to a point where some recent papers on theoretical physics can be read and understood. I graduated with a mathematics degree around 4 years ago and regards myself as fairly talented and able with...

I'm an UG right now, but I plan on doing research in theoretical physics (probably particle physics. I want to work on finding a TOE. Possibly QM or QED instead). Which schools are best for these pursuits? Thank you.

I'm a 32 years old teacher in mathematics and physics in a high school, and I obtained a first class BSc (Hon) in physics a couple of years ago, which was emphazided on theoretical physics in terms of option courses. However, I have always wanted to gain an MSc and, if possible, a Phd in...

Has anyone read this book? How is it?

Hello, do you know any websites on the internet with exersices and solutions in theoretical physics? No matter which Topic. Mathematical methods, Mechanics, Elektrodynamics, Quantum Mechanics,... thanks greetings

Einstein espoused in many of his essays the opinion that there is no logical and direct path from from the world of experience to a set of concepts to describe and understand/organize that experience. The concepts and ideas that we use to describe nature are free creations of the mind. For...

I'm a second year undergraduate at UChicago, and I plan on doing graduate work in theoretical physics. So when the time comes, to which graduate program should I apply: mathematics, applied mathematics, or physics? From my research, it seems that the answer differs by institution. For example...

Can somebody give me an idea what you get upto on a day to day basis? I know roughly what you work towards in a PhD, obviously it depends on your topic, but I have no idea what it consists of day in and day out. For example, what maths do you do daily? What theory do you do daily? How much...

I'm planning to apply for a MSc studies in Theoretical Physics. I found that LMU and Utrecht offer 2-year, and not 1-year, programs, which I like. What would you choose for a broader education in this area?

Hi all! The prof for "theoretical methods in physics" mentioned last week the term "wedge product" but it all remained very unclear to me. I read about it in Wikipedia, but couldn`t catch it at all, cause I`m doing in the first semester now. Does anyone know where I could find it well...

Hello All i want to study theoretical physics and get a degree and then follow my post graduate studies, but i have to main problems, first is that i can't attend to much because i am working as a full time programmer so i need to find a reputable university that can offer the degree by long...

Hi everyone, I'm applying this year for a snazzy 2 (maybe 3) year scholarship for graduate study at Oxford. I want to study gravitational physics, getting a strong foundation in relativity and quantum theory before choosing to research black holes, quantum gravity, quantum field theory or...

Question: I know I want to do theory, and definitely not experiment. To that end, is it better to be a TA or an RA? I heard it said that being a TA is better...is this true? I was somewhat disbelieving...

At the moment, I'm doing my Master degree in theoretical physics. I'd like to do a doctoral program in the field of quantum field theory. My partner is also doing his Master degree at the same university like me (in Switzerland). He is more interested in the field of astrophysics. We are...

What's the difference between Theoretical Physics and Astrophysics? What I mean is isn't Astrophysics also included in Theoretical Physics?

Hi all. Starting an undrgraduate programme in Theoretical Physics in two weeks and I have to choose two modules to take for the year. These modules can be of absolutely any topic that is availible in my college, they are called elective modules. I have come to a conclusion that it probably...

I'm having to decide which degree to take now and can't really make my mind up between straight Physics or Theoretical. I will be applying to Oxford, Bristol, Manchester, Imperial and Nottingham if anyone cares. Just wondering what peoples thoughts are on the 'Physics with Theoretical...

I am 21 years old and after this semester I will be transfering to begin work on my masters degree. I have been pursuing electrical engineering but am seriously contemplating studying Theoretical Physics after I get my bachelors. My question is "What kind of job opportunities are there for...

There been some discussion about whether good at maths implies good at physics. I like to ask something else. Can someone be bad at maths but good at theoretical physics? bad obviously means not as good compared to most of the maths people. And not just bad as in knowing less but also bad as...

Hi all, I just got accepted to study theoretical physics in UCD in Ireland for the next four years. At the end of it I will come out with a BSc, hopefully. My ambition is to later get an MSc in Cambridge. I have heard so many stories about the level of difficulty associated with getting into...

Hello everybody! I have two questions: 1. What universities should be considered when looking for a place to study for a MSc? The criteria are high level scholars, possibly working in theoretical high energy physics, and a possibility to get funding. 2. I'm currently studying for a BSc...

Hello all. Without further ado, my situation is this: I graduated with a Master's in computer science from the University of Turku, Finland earlier this year. It's equivalent to a UK MSc. I have a strong maths and physics background; I started as a physics major, but switched over to...

I'm choosing 3 maths modules for next year (my third in Maths and Physics, in a UK university) with a view to studying theoretical physics thereafter (starting off with general relativity, quantum field theory and most likely strings, and working outwards from there depending on where I am-...

Hi I am currently in my last year of school in Ireland and I am hoping to study theoretical physics next year. The problem is there is a few colleges that provide the course but I have no idea which one to choose. The two main ones I am looking at are UCD and Trinity College Dublin. Do either of...

I am torn between theoretical physics and math. Are there any theoretical physicists here who regret not going into math? Are there any mathematicians here who regret no going into theoretical physics?

i want to do double majors in aero eng and theoretical physics. is the value of eng in such a course is equal to a single grad degree in aero eng? is double majors offered by most of universities in uk?your answers will help a lot.

Greetings to all! As deadlines approach for PhD applications, I'm pretty confused about where to get my PhD and the implications of my choice. I'd really like to hear some opinions on my dilemma. Firstly, I'm currently in a MSc program somewhere in Europe and estimate to graduate on the...

How useful is topology in theoretical physics? By topology, I mean the contents of Munkres book, Hausdorff spaces, homeomorphisms, etc. It seems to me like topology is totally a mathematical construct since the idea of an "open set" in an abstract space seems to have no "physical" meaning...

I want to become either a theoretical physics or something robotics/engineering related. I've always been into maths and physics and I like electronics and programming as a hobby. I also want the career that gives me space for ambition, since I want to rise to the very top(do I sound naive?)...