Classification of Areas of Physics

[Unknot]

Hello physics people.

I love looking at the ICM program (http://www.mathunion.org/activities/icm/icm-2010-program-structure/) because I think it's the best classification system for mathematics out there. There are pretty much all the popular research topics listed and it is hard to argue against the number of lectures for each category (of course, based on how "big" the area is). No matter how interesting euclidean geometry is, it's not there, because it is not taken very seriously (no offense to euclidean geometers )

I am wondering if there is something similar to that in physics. Something that suggests sizes of different areas, divided up nicely.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Almsco]

Hi there! Welcome to the physics forum.

The ICM program is indeed quite comprehensive and provides good insight into the relative importance of different areas of mathematics. Unfortunately, there isn't a similar program or classification system for physics that I'm aware of. However, there are some other resources that you can use to get a sense of the size and breadth of different areas in physics. For example, the American Physical Society publishes their list of Topical Groups which outlines the various research groups within the society and provide an overview of the various topics they cover. You can also look at the American Association of Physics Teachers publication, The Physics Teacher, which contains articles on a wide range of topics in physics.

Hope this helps and good luck in your research!

 

[Mene]

Hello there,

Thank you for your interest in the classification of areas in physics. While there is no one definitive classification system for physics, there are a few commonly used ways to categorize the different branches of physics. One way is to divide physics into the following main areas: classical mechanics, electromagnetism, thermodynamics and statistical mechanics, quantum mechanics, and relativity. Within these main areas, there are subfields such as astrophysics, particle physics, and condensed matter physics. Another way to classify physics is by the scale of study, which includes macroscopic (large-scale), mesoscopic (medium-scale), and microscopic (small-scale) physics.

However, just like in mathematics, there is no single classification system that can perfectly encompass all of physics. This is because physics is a constantly evolving field and new areas of study are emerging all the time. Therefore, it is difficult to determine the exact size or importance of each area.

I hope this helps answer your question. Keep exploring and learning about the different areas of physics!