What's the difference between theoretical and computational physics?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers on the differences between theoretical and computational physics, exploring the roles and methodologies of each discipline. Participants examine the relevance of traditional methods in the context of modern computational techniques and the nature of exact results in physics.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • One participant suggests that computational physicists differ from theoretical physicists primarily in their use of computers, implying a shift away from traditional methods.
  • Another participant counters the notion that paper and pencil methods are obsolete, indicating a continued relevance of traditional techniques.
  • A participant notes that exact results in physics may have ceased to exist in certain fields prior to the advent of computers, raising questions about the historical context of these results.
  • It is proposed that computational physicists still engage in traditional theoretical work, using pencil and paper to model problems before applying computational methods, emphasizing the importance of understanding underlying equations.
  • There is a suggestion that programming skills are essential for computational physicists, which may not be universally appreciated among those in the field.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the relevance of traditional methods in modern physics, with some asserting their continued importance while others suggest a shift towards computational techniques. The question of whether exact results still exist in physics remains unresolved, with varying opinions on the historical context.

Contextual Notes

Some participants highlight the ambiguity in the initial question regarding the differences between theoretical and computational physics, indicating that the discussion may benefit from more specific framing.

Frion
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As I understand it, the days of paper and pencil are mostly over. So what exactly do computational physicists do that that makes them different from theoretical physicists?
 
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Frion said:
As I understand it, the days of paper and pencil are mostly over.

Naa.
 
My notebooks would disagree.
 
Are there still exact results to be had in physics?
 
Frion said:
Are there still exact results to be had in physics?
Were they ever?
 
Frion said:
Are there still exact results to be had in physics?

Exact results stopped existing in certain fields long before computers came along
 
Wonderfully helpful posts...

Computational physicists usually do some pencil and paper stuff to figure out how to model something most efficiently on a computer. It's good to know how a computer works almost to the level where software and hardware meet, like memory storage and processing, things like that. At a higher level, you'll want to know a lot of numerical analysis and methods so that you figure out the fastest and/or most accurate way to solve a problem.

In a way, I think computational physics is still like traditional theoretical physics. I spend lots of time with pencil and paper trying to figure out what some equations mean in different ways, and really understanding how these formulas work helps you to figure out better ways of solving problems. Then of course you'll need to know how to program pretty well, and some people don't like that, but I think it's fun and it's something that requires significant brainpower, though it requires a different way of thinking than the way you think about physics [usually].

Your question was sort of vague and general, so I hope that's what you were looking for.
 

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