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pivoxa15
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What do highly theoretical physicsts (fundalmental physics like beyond the standard model) do all day? Mostly maths? On the computer?
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pivoxa15 said:What do highly theoretical physicsts do all day?
JasonRox said:Einstein was a theorist and was a ladies man.
Feynmann was a theorist and was a ladies man.
So, I guess theorists are good with the ladies.
JasonRox said:Einstein was a theorist and was a ladies man.
Feynmann was a theorist and was a ladies man.
So, I guess theorists are good with the ladies.
ice109 said:Jason's sole concern is the "ladies". i bet he started doing mathematics simply to impress the "ladies" much like how many guys learn guitar for similar reasons.
ice109 said:most theorists are phenomenologists, meaning they seek to explain phenomena using some theory.
what do they do? i have no clue. probably sit around and think a lot.
G01 said:then N-1 women are chasing you, eventually you have N women chasing you! I don't know how any male mathematician keeps the ladies off of him...
Asphodel said:Because in four dimensions, this simplifies to the case where N = 0. First one woman is running away, then nothing.
ice109 said:most theorists are phenomenologists, meaning they seek to explain phenomena using some theory. what does this really mean? computing values for certain things, like mass of (blank) , energy of (blank), etc. using the formulae of a theory. Obviously this isn't as easy as it sounds.
very very few theorists are model builders, theory inventers. what do they do? i have no clue. probably sit around and think a lot.
bravernix said:I have been lurking on this forum for quite awhile, and one thing I notice, is that when talking about theorists everyone seems to ignore the fact that there are many many people working in condensed matter theory as well. (Not to mention perhaps smaller fields such as plasma physics theory). Why is this?
ice109 said:i don't understand the implication? the condensed matter theorist i worked for this summer was still a phenomenologist. the paper he wrote this summer was second order calculations of feynman diagrams for something something.
JasonRox said:I just made my comment to show that there is no set answer.
I get the feeling that Pivoxa is looking for reasons to live a social sheltered life by like saying that's what Physicists and Mathematicians do. Believe it or not, it's not even close at all. Although it is becoming more common, it is definitely not the norm. Apparently this trend has started after World War II after some two authors mentionned it (Herbert and some other physicists). I think Paul Halmos noted the same thing.
You decide whether it's a good thing or not. I suggest reading books of all kinds of mathematicians and physicists and not only the famous ones. Most lead wonderful and normal lives.
Note: Halmos drank like a fish and even gave a recipe for an alcohol drink in his book.
As a physicist, my main focus is to understand the fundamental laws and principles that govern the behavior of matter and energy in the universe. This involves studying various subfields such as mechanics, thermodynamics, electromagnetism, and quantum mechanics.
Physicists use their knowledge and skills to solve practical problems in a variety of fields, such as engineering, medicine, and technology. For example, they may develop new materials, design more efficient renewable energy sources, or improve medical imaging techniques.
Physicists use a wide range of tools and equipment, depending on their specific area of research. These may include advanced computer software, particle accelerators, telescopes, lasers, and other specialized instruments.
Collaboration is an essential aspect of scientific research, and physicists often work with other scientists, including physicists from different subfields, engineers, mathematicians, and computer scientists. We share ideas, data, and resources to tackle complex problems and make new discoveries.
One common misconception about physicists is that we only work on abstract theories and have no practical applications. In reality, many of the technologies we use in our daily lives, such as smartphones, GPS, and MRI machines, are based on principles and discoveries in physics. Another misconception is that we are all geniuses or "mad scientists," when in fact, we are just curious individuals who are passionate about understanding the world around us.