Profession of Dr. Emmett "Doc" Brown

AI Thread Summary
Doc Brown from "Back to the Future" is portrayed as a physicist with a strong emphasis on theoretical knowledge and experimentation, but his ability to construct complex devices raises questions about his engineering skills. The discussion suggests that while physicists can build technical devices, the level of expertise required for Doc's inventions implies he may also possess significant engineering capabilities. It is proposed that he likely specializes as an electrical engineer, given the nature of his devices, while also having a solid understanding of physics, particularly in areas like time, space, and general relativity. The mention of Lucius Name Emett references a whimsical inventor, highlighting the creative and imaginative aspects of Doc Brown's character.
pioneerboy
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Hi there,

If you look through the trilogy of "Back to the Future" you come across many devices of Doc Brown. He's officially a physicist with theoretical knowledge, he's always claiming to conducting experiments, and he's great in building things...obviously. First question: what branch of physicist is he probably?
Now, I know that a physicist is expected/can/might (depending on branch) be able to build technical things, but when we look at all the stuff he's doing, I have my doubts that a phycisist would be able to build all this without profound expertise in engineering - of course, while being not at that level, I personally don't know what a Dr. in experimental physics is able to build beyond/or not beyond the level of an engineer. So, just by looking at all those devices with wires, electronics, remotes etc. I assume he's more of an engineer than a physicist - of course with very good physical knowledge about time and space and general relativity. What's your opinion?
Second question: What kind of engineer would he most likely be? Due to the above opinion and looks from the devices I expect him to be an electrical engineer and assume that an electrical engineer learns the mechanical stuff that is necessary to build simple mechanical devices, like the mechanics of a robotic arm to feed his dog (while mechanical engineers the whole variety of materials inside out).

Thanks.

Lucius
 
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Ryan_m_b said:
He's an omniscientist
Damn. I clicked that link thinking I would find the answer to what I want to do for my master's thesis :|
 
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