What is Applied physics: Definition and 141 Discussions

Applied physics is the application of physics to solve scientific or engineering problems. It is usually considered to be a bridge or a connection between physics and engineering.
"Applied" is distinguished from "pure" by a subtle combination of factors, such as the motivation and attitude of researchers and the nature of the relationship to the technology or science that may be affected by the work. Applied physics is rooted in the fundamental truths and basic concepts of the physical sciences, but is concerned with the utilization of scientific principles in practical devices and systems, and in the application of physics in other areas of science.

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  1. M

    How does Applied Physics and Electrical Engineering differ?

    I'm torn between several areas: Optics, Materials Science, and Physics. Academically does Applied Physics and EE differ at all in the interests I have? I need to talk to an adviser but I'm thinking of majoring in EE or Physics then taking every elective I can from the other department. I...
  2. S

    BA or BS - Physics or Applied Physics

    I've been looking at various majors recently and noticed that my school offers a BA and a BS in physics, and a BS in applied physics. Looking at the course list I can see that there are more physics and math classes for the BS (6-8), while the BA only requires you to take 3 or 4 actual physics...
  3. planethunter

    EE & Applied Physics: Is There a Connection?

    Is applied physics essentially electrical engineering?
  4. S

    Internships for Applied Physics Majors in CT?

    My school has a neat internship program where they will pay a stipend for the summer if you can find an "internship" somewhere related to your career goals. The nice thing is that it doesn't even have to be a real internship--all that you need is some place willing to let you work for them...
  5. planethunter

    MS Applied Physics @ Cal State Long Beach?

    Hi there, I have been recently admitted into the Applied Physics master's degree program at Cal State Long Beach here in Los Angeles County and want to know if anybody here has any experience with the school and specifically the department?? Is iit a somewhat respected program? I have also been...
  6. P

    What graduate applied physics or engineering physics programs?

    I will be graduating in December with a B.S. in physics, GPA about 3.6 in major. What schools in the U.S. (preferably Northeast) would you guys recommend for applied physics or engineering physics programs? Also possible are EE programs which are friendly to physics undergrads, which seem to be...
  7. A

    Programs How easy is it to find funding to do an Applied Physics PhD abroad?

    Although I am not yet sure which area I would want to do a PhD in (I am only in 2nd year undergrad) it would most likely be something applied like accelerator physics, plasma physics, metamaterials, plasmonics etc. (I realize this is a ridiculous range of topics :P ) The proposed ~30% cuts to...
  8. C

    Math I am a freshman majoring in Applied Physics and minoring in Math. In

    I am a freshman majoring in Applied Physics and minoring in Math. In my spare time I sometimes browse job listings on monster. My question is if one of the requirements is a BS in engineering would a BS in Applied Physics be equal
  9. V

    Programs PhD in Applied Physics or Electrical Engg

    Am still not clear which path to choose. Both departments got good program and research. I have admission from both departments. Am bit worried from job point of view after graduation. Do industry/academia treat PhD Applied physics equal to EE for job offers? To give more insight if I choose...
  10. D

    Engineering Applied Physics PhD v. Masters Engineering v. getting a job with BS

    Noob questions on behalf of my daughter, who graduates with a BS in Physics from a research uni next semester and has a decidedly deer-in-the-headlights approach to post-graduate career path. 3.3 GPA in a program with a fair bit of chemistry/biochem/biophysics experience (contemplated MD/PhD...
  11. F

    Schools Applied physics graduate school prep

    My questions are rather unfocused... I don't really know if they're really questions yet, but chime in as much as possible. I'm just tossing ideas around here. 1. I think all physics programs offer an advance lab class. they offer a range of experiments and you pick some to repeat. Is this...
  12. F

    Is a BSc in Applied Physics Enough for a Successful Career in Engineering?

    I am a senior majoring in Applied Physics.. I'm set to graduate next year and intended on pursuing a master's degree in Electrical Engineering. After doing research it seems it will be difficult to find a job even after I obtained my master's degree for the simple fact of not being an...
  13. B

    Q: theoretical and applied physics

    hi this is my first post ,and i hope it is ont the last. can i ask you a single question : can you tell me the different between studying theoretical physics and studying applied physics ? thank you.
  14. C

    Advice on 3+2 Program for Applied Physics Major at Coastal Carolina

    I will be attending Coastal Carolina University in the fall as an applied physics major, but the school also has a 3+2 program with Clemson where I would get a Physics degree from Coastal and an Engineering degree from Clemson. My question is would it be better to do the 3+2 and then graduate...
  15. J

    Programs Majoring in physics and working in applied physics.

    I have a question. I am going to start a major in physics next year but I can't picture myself giving classes infront of a lot of people. So I am not considering to teach at all. If I finish a major in physics what are my chances of getting a work in engineery or applied physics only with the...
  16. M

    Programs Is a PhD required for applied physics in non-academic settings?

    Would a PhD be required to work as an applied physicist in non-academic settings? Or are there a good number of locations, positions, etc. where a person with a least a BS in applied physics may be employed to directly apply her/his knowledge of applied physics?
  17. maverick280857

    Physics Can a Senior Undergrad in EE Switch to a Career in Physics?

    Applied Physics --> Physics? Hi, Is it possible and feasible to switch from Applied Physics (say with a PhD, having worked on accelerator physics) to 'pure' Physics (say theory, or experiment, in high energy physics)? I'm trying to weigh my options as a senior undergrad in EE wanting to...
  18. S

    Physics Career choices and concerns for UG applied physics.

    applied physics and cs double major or applied physics/CE minor? according to my advisor, there isn't a whole lot of career choices as Undergrad applied physics major. its either technician, part salesman... or go into grad school... i want to go to grad school in the future but i want to work...
  19. S

    Admissions Applying at Yale (Applied Physics)

    Hi, I am eager to apply at the applied physics department of yale university. I completed my BSc in Electronic Engineering and Msc In Radio and Space Science. My academic profile is given below. Masters Result: Moderate Undergrad GPA:3.22 Publication: three (one IEEE journal as first...
  20. E

    Programs Online Masters Degree Engineering Physics or Applied Physics

    Does anyone know of an online Masters Degree in Engineering Physics or Applied Physics? I have searched around, but to my surprise, did not find much.
  21. S

    Which applied physics concentration to pick?

    sorry i already made a similar topic before but i didnt get any response so i decided to be more specific. i am an applied physics major freshman. i have to pick a concentration of studies but i don't know what to pick. what are some possible career paths for dual majoring in applied...
  22. M

    Applied Physics at Purdue a good idea?

    I've been look at some stuff about applied physics recently to see if I would be interested in doing that, but it seems like mostly everywhere else it is different than it is here at Purdue. Applied Physics here at Purdue takes all of the core classes of the Physics degree (physics and college...
  23. W

    Physics vs. Applied physics *departments*

    I'm looking for graduate schools now, and noticing that some schools have separate applied physics departments. If I want to apply to the school, do I only apply for physics or applied physics, or should I apply for both to have a better chance of getting in? This is of course assuming that...
  24. D

    What's the difference between Applied Physics and Physics?

    From a job and degree standpoint. I know you're applying one and not the other. So is an Applied Physicist just an Engineer? To take this information further, what would be the breakdown of personnel at something like CERN? What do the Theoretical Physicists, Experimental Physicists, Applied...
  25. S

    Lack of friction in Applied Physics

    There is a question in my lab, asking "describe an area of modern Applied Physics where the lack of friction is a serious disadvantage." I am not really sure what they are asking. Can someone please help me out? Thanks!
  26. W

    Physics vs. Applied Physics Ph.D.?

    I've asked a similar question before I think, but now it's a bit more specific. If I get a Ph.D. in Applied Physics (places like CalTech offer them), how will that affect my career? I plan to go into industry or possibly a government lab. I highly doubt I will ever go to academia. I'm...
  27. W

    Exploring Applied Physics Graduate Programs: Tips and Insights

    I'll be graduating this coming year and it's time to hunt for graduate schools. Definitely will go into experimentalism, and fondling the idea of applied physics. Anybody know anything about that or any schools that have a specialization in it? I found out Cornell has a separate kind of...
  28. O

    Is Physics or Applied Physics Better for Grad School in Astronomy/Astrophysics?

    What would look better when applying to grad school for something along the lines of Astronomy/Astrophysics.
  29. R

    Are Master's Degrees in Applied Physics/Engineering Physics Competitive?

    Hey guys, I just had a question concerning graduate school. I completed my freshman year at college and will begin sophomore year in the fall. I'll be taking Classical Mechanics and Advanced Lab. I have taken Physics 1, 2, 3, and a physics elective (medical physics). As for math, I've done...
  30. O

    Physics or/and applied physics

    Hy everyone, i will be enrolling in university for a course in physics and applied physics in abut 3/4 of a year. Is this course a mix between the 2? or must one choose between them. I actually plan on doing applied physics and i aim for a masters. I hope to be working in an industry...
  31. V

    Programs PhD in applied physics possible?

    hi all, i did my undergrad in India in electronics and communication engineering and currently am abt to finish a coursework masters programme(i.e without research which means it's not a postgraduate degree in true sense, but something like an extension year in undergrad) in electrical...
  32. R

    Applied Physics: Weight-Lifting Work

    Applied Physics: Weight-Lifting "Work" OK, sorry, this may be in the wrong place... but where would you post something like this? This may be too simple, but I cannot get my mind wrapped around this. I need to lose weight and I want to be able to 'quantify' the calories I burn. If I am...
  33. M

    Programs BS Applied Physics to Engineering PhD

    I'm a Rice University sophomore majoring in Applied Physics. I decided only within the past semester that I don't want to do pure physics my whole life (mainly due to the poor career choices). So I changed to applied physics. My question now is if it is possible to go to graduate school in...
  34. U

    Difference between Physics and Applied Physics

    My department is changing its designation from "Applied Physics" to "Physics". Because I'm in 3rd year, this means that I have the option of having one of the two on my degree. What is the difference?
  35. P

    Schools Is an Internship the Right Path for Grad School in Applied Physics?

    I just transferred over to a university (UW) and my advisor said that if I am planning on going into applied physics after my B.S., my grad school will probably just be an intership or something like that. Is that right? That would be pretty awesome. I have a short attention span, so going...
  36. P

    Exploring the Benefits of a Master's Degree in Applied Physics

    I'm only in my 2nd year of undergrad, but I'm already thinking about what I'll do after it. For a while now my plan has been to go get a Ph.D. in applied physics. But I keep thinking about how long that will take... So what about a Master's in applied physics? Is there still useful things...
  37. D

    How difficult is it for one with a B.S. in Applied Physics

    How difficult is it for one with a B.S. in Applied Physics to get into this field? How about if one also knows a little bit about Unix and programming?
  38. B

    Schools Physics or Applied Physics Grad School

    I'm having trouble deciding which area of graduate school will be better for my interests. Maybe someone who knows more about the differences can help me out. The problem is, I enjoy learning how nature works, but I am also interested in creating new technology from the physics (and learning...
  39. D

    Courses Course selection for applied physics

    Well, so the backstory is this: I'm studying physics at the university of copenhagen, and i'll be applying shortly to get in as en exchange student to the university of california (most propably Irvine) for one year (my final year in my BS studies). And i wanted to take advantage of the fact...
  40. cronxeh

    Cost of Chemical Engineering vs Applied Physics Books

    Why are all Chemical Engineering books at least a $100 or more, while Applied Physics books go for around 20-30 bucks a piece?
  41. C

    I had a question about math applied physics

    I know that math is used to interprete physical events like the motion of a object,so you can find where it is by how much distance it traveled in a certain time.thats easy,but I never understood how math relates to hypothetical models of different types of black holes,or universes,or particles...
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