# Do physicists really need to master mathematical modeling?

#### MOKHTAR

Summary: Do physicists really need to master mathematical modeling?

Do physicists really need to master mathematical modeling?

As far as I know Mathematical modeling is a separate discipline form Physics?

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#### Orodruin

Staff Emeritus
Homework Helper
Gold Member
2018 Award
Mathematical modelling of physical systems is generally what physicists do. Of course you may do more or less of it depending on your subfield, but it is an absolutely essentiall skill for most physicists.

#### fresh_42

Mentor
2018 Award
Whatever you call it. Physics is to measure something and put the result into context of other measurements with the goal to deduce a general rule between those measurements. So you have a bunch of numbers representing quantities (variables) and you want to deduce a law (formula) between those quantities.

At school, i.e. in classical physics, those laws are often proportional dependences like $P\sim T$ or $U\sim R$. In particle physics and cosmology those laws become more complicated and need more framework, but the basic principle is still the same.

What do you think physics is, or how else could it be done?

#### Dr. Courtney

Gold Member
2018 Award
Most physicists have mastered a significant subset of mathematical modeling.

Odds of success in physics are much, much smaller for those who avoid it.

I guess it is hypothetically possible to succeed as some kind of experimentalist without mathematical modeling, but I cannot think of any real examples of physicists who have done it.

"Do physicists really need to master mathematical modeling?"

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