What is Physicist: Definition and 660 Discussions

A physicist is a scientist who specializes in the field of physics, which encompasses the interactions of matter and energy at all length and time scales in the physical universe.
Physicists generally are interested in the root or ultimate causes of phenomena, and usually frame their understanding in mathematical terms.
Physicists work across a wide range of research fields, spanning all length scales: from sub-atomic and particle physics, through biological physics, to cosmological length scales encompassing the universe as a whole.
The field generally includes two types of physicists: experimental physicists who specialize in the observation of physical phenomena and the analysis of experiments, and theoretical physicists who specialize in mathematical modeling of physical systems to rationalize, explain and predict natural phenomena.
Physicists can apply their knowledge towards solving practical problems or to developing new technologies (also known as applied physics or engineering physics).

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  1. T

    Particles QFT for condensed matter physicist (should I?)

    Hi, I would like to ask whether if a course in Quantum Field Theory (in particle physics context) would be of any use to future condensed matter physicist. Is it beneficial to be exposed to things like Canonical Quantization, Interacting Fields, Dirac Equation, Quantizing Dirac field and QED? I...
  2. H

    Physics What Is the Job Outlook for Medical Physicists in Hawaii?

    Hello! I got my BS in Physics last May and recently decided I would like to pursue medical physics. I've looked up a ton of information on it already (grad programs, CAMPEP certification, residencies, etc.) I know there is varying opinion on job outlook also. My real concern is I am planning on...
  3. Z

    What type of physicist works in the field of Classical Mechanics?

    What type of physicist works in the field of Classical Mechanics? And yes, this does encompass the general theory of relativity.
  4. A

    Physics I Need Guidance in Becoming a Nuclear Physicist

    Hello PFers! I am currently a Junior in HighSchool and I am extremely interested in Nuclear Science. My mentality is to prepare for things in advance as soon as possible, so I would love to know some things that I can research and do that would give me a head start and basic...
  5. S

    Does a modern day physicist need to be an expert computer programmer

    I am about to start my undergrad physics degree and have every intention of having some sort of career in physics whatever that may be, however I am concerned that it seems most modern day physicists spend large portions of time writing computer code, which is something I am pretty bad at...
  6. T

    Programs Best Engineering degree for a physicist at heart?

    Hello PF community, I am currently a sophomore in college about to declare a major, and I wanted to know what engineering degree is most closely related to/has the most to do with physics. Physics is my passion, but I don't think I can commit to a physics degree. I am looking at a mountain of...
  7. StevieTNZ

    Physicist disentangles 'Schrodinger's cat' debate

    As per the title, the article is Physicist disentangles 'Schrodinger's cat' debate The paper is http://arxiv.org/ftp/arxiv/papers/1301/1301.1673.pdf To be quite honest, I don't quite understand what he is trying to say. It looks as though he's trying to make calculations on entangled pairs by...
  8. M

    Intensity of the light in the light bulb what physicist described it?

    We know that the intensity of the light in the light bulb depends on the electric current. And I want to know who was the first physicist who proved this. And if there is a possibility could you also tell me how, why, when, where he did this experiment or give me an website, but the name of...
  9. S

    Physics How to get on a career path for a particle physicist

    I am currently in 8th grade. Particle physics fascinates me, and I would like to know ways to get on this career path. Working at LHC/CERN is all I think about. Recommended books, high school programs, extra curricular activities, colleges, internships, and websites would be very helpful for...
  10. S

    Engineering Life as a Physicist or Engineer

    I am a college freshman, and I was just wondering what the work environment and nature of work was like for a physicist and an engineer. I am most interested in hearing about all types of physicists (but I find particle physics fascinating) and electrical and mechanical engineer but all other...
  11. F

    Schools Do I need to be in a top college to be a physicist?

    I know that, theoretically, I can be a physicist no matter where I go to college (normal state colleges being the lower limit) as long as I get a physics degree. But from what I have read and heard, obtaining a physics degree from a top college is crucial if I wanted to be a good physicist. The...
  12. T

    Who's the smartest living physicist?

    I think most people will say Edward Witten or some nobel laureate ...Objectively who's the Einstein of 2013?Who made the greatest discoveries in the last 10 years?
  13. T

    The road to becoming a Theoretical Physicist

    I am currently a high school student, I will be graduating next year and I know exactly what I want to do after that. I cannot see myself choosing a career other than physics as it is my passion and it has always been my dream to work as a theoretical physicist. I am now at the point where I am...
  14. Z

    International prospects for jobs as a physicist- Europe

    I really want to know how the prospects for having a job in Europe are at this moment. If anybody knows about some info about England I'd be glad. Is having the equivalent of a master from a well known russian university enough for having a decent job in europe or anywhere else?
  15. A

    Can I still become a Physicist?

    Dear Friends, I always wanted to be a physicist and while in grade12 I got into depression which cost me 10 precious years of my life. I'm 30 now and haven't yet got to college. Is there hope for me?
  16. N

    Be a Physicist: Learn About Astrophysics Research

    I want to be a astrophysicist.Can anybody tell some extra courses that will help me with research in astrophysics in future?
  17. F

    I want to be a physicist but my parents want me to be a doctor.

    I am really interested in physics and mathematics and I want to continue in that way. I want to be a physicist but my parents want me to a doctor or programmer or something like that(to make a lot of money). I am only 15 years old and I have already mastered calculus. I am one of the best...
  18. P

    Become a Theoretical Physicist: How to Get Started & Enhance Your Skills at 17

    Hello everybody i am new to this site I am om my mission to became a theoratical physicit like Albret Einstein was and i am very enamoured with physics and i am willing to be like him but the problem is i don't know where to start what are the books to read so they can help me in fulfilling my...
  19. M

    What Math Should a Prospective Physicist Master Before Graduating College?

    I would like to be a physicist and hopefully one day get involved in particle physics or theories of quantum gravity, but I am not a savant and couldn't solve different equations by the time I was four years old. I have only taken up to pre-calculus math classes. I was supposed to graduate at...
  20. M

    As a physicist, should I boder about mathematics proofs/demonstrations

    As an aspiring theretical physiciat, besides the general concept and its applications, as well as proficiency at dealing with a certain mathematical ''thing'' (identities, properties, theorems, techniques...) should I focus too on the demonstrations, proofs or I just have to take them from...
  21. V

    Do I stand a chance as a physicist?

    Hi there. I'm new here and this is my first post. So yeah, hi. So, I'm a 19-year old high school drop-out with a quite profound interest in physics. Here's some background: I've always gotten good grades in school, especially in math and English (2nd language), but I did it without really...
  22. L

    Need help on how to find a Physicist that will do my wedding ceremony

    I thought it would be a fantastic idea to have a physicist to perform the wedding ceremony (instead of an ordained minister/priest/etc). It would be pretty simple because we are already married (married via court house last summer), and now we are just doing a wedding for everyone in the...
  23. H

    How to think better as a physicist?

    Hello:I am a good A student, but not because I like to get good grades but I am willing to dig into the materials taught to me deeper on my own, especially for mathematics and mathemtaics (I am currently a graduating engineering student). In practice, I have often find that I make wrong...
  24. J

    Physics Why a theoretical physicist seeks professorship

    What kind of resources does a university provide that are so important to a theoretical physicist? I pose this as a serious question. I know not all fields of theoretical physics are the same, but let's just take string theory for example. It seems to me that string theory at the moment is...
  25. johann1301

    Industrial knowledge as a experimental physicist

    Hi Im in the army, and the army is willing to give me 20 000kr (bout 4000$) to educate myself. F. ex i can take å truck license if i wanted to. I want to become a physisist, either theoretical or expereimental. I was wondering if anybody in this forum would know of any courses which could...
  26. I

    Physics Suggestions for a Ph.D. - What is the actual job of a physicist?

    Hello everyone! It won't be long before I'll take my degree in theoretical Physics and then I'll have to apply for a Ph.D. I'd like to work on some fundamental Physics. The problem I have to face is that I actually know (almost) nothing about contemporary physics and so I don't have the...
  27. V

    Pathway to become theorotical physicist

    I'm very passionate about physics and want to have knowledge in all branches of physics like quantum mechanics, electromagnetism, relativity, etc i'm also interested in astrophysics and cosmology. So what type of education i must take to follow my passion, currently i have finished my 10+2 and...
  28. G

    Physics Employment prospects of a physicist

    In the US, roughly 1500 PhDs are granted in Physics every year. The goal of this thread is to ascertain, by your best estimates, how many of those 1500 will be able to achieve some sort of advancement in the field. Of the 1500, how many will be accepted to a postdoctoral position (Whether it...
  29. D

    Physics I am a Doctor, Can I be a theoretical Physicist?

    I graduated from Medical school. Then wanted to pursue my career in research. I chose Immunology and I was doing PhD. But my skills were not good and I was fired during my studies. My supervisor said that I am smart and clever but I don't have skills. I always wanted to be a scientist and I...
  30. N

    Physics Medical Physicist resident from Australia

    Medical Physicist "resident" from Australia Hi everybody, I'm looking for advice with regards to moving to North America, particularly Canada, and becoming a medical physicist. I am Canadian, born and raised. I earned my B.Sc. in Canada (McMaster's non-CAMPEP radiation physics program), but...
  31. P

    Physics Physicist Looking to Move from Optics/Lasers/EM to Nuclear Physics

    I am about to graduate with a physics Ph.D. My University is very strong in optics, photonics and electromagnetism, and even basic quantum mechanics (for topics like entanglement and solid state physics) but rather weak in nuclear physics. Thing is, nuclear physics has always fascinated me and...
  32. A

    Physics Choosing a Career in Science: The Dilemma of Salary vs. Passion

    Greetings, my name is Ali and I live in Sweden. I've had quite the depression these couple of weeks, if not months. I've been thinking a lot about my future and I can't get my mind to make a decision. I want to become a physicist but the problem that keeps my away from becoming that is the...
  33. G

    Physics Medical physicist from Canada to US

    I'm brand new to the forum, but have read all medphys treads I could find before signing up. I'm Canadian, with an MSc in medical physics from a CAMPEP accredited program, also residency and CCMP certification, plus more than five years experience in a large university hospital. I'm ready to...
  34. A

    To become physicist which branch i should take ?

    First of all i am an eleventh class student who has just passed his tenth standard . I don't know much about engineering branches . I always admire the work of stephen hawkins and michio kaku . Please tell me the way to get my dream career as a theoretical physicist.
  35. 4

    Physics Salary of Physicists: Hear From Experts

    I was curious of the salary of Physicists,and since most of you guys are physicists, you will provide a more... Understandable and truthful experience then Google. I don't care if I'm getting payed pennies on the dollar, as long as I'm a Physicist. I'm just curious.
  36. I

    Physics Working as a medical physicist in the U.S

    I am currently studying in India . I am almost done with my Master in medical physics. After i finish i want to work in the U.S as a medical physicist. But i think it is not possible , because , first of all , my university is not CAMPEP accredited. But can anyone tell me , if I want to work...
  37. adjacent

    Become a Physicist: PhD in Mathematics or Physics?

    Hello I want to become a physicist.Can a phD in mathematics lead me to that or a phD in physics? Or to become a mathematician will a phD in physics help? My point is that do I have to do phD in the specific field to become one?
  38. K

    Can I Become a Physicist Without a College Degree?

    I am a 23yr old high-school dropout. Ahh! Wait! Before you roll your eyes and say, "sorry, pal, not a snowball's chance in hell," let me elaborate a bit. A few years ago, I discovered that I have an affinity for math. Since then I have learned the following topics through self-study...
  39. Useful nucleus

    Text Processing Language for a computaional physicist

    So I have been using a combination of Linux shell and Fortran to process big output files from my simulations. But I realized that it would save me a lot of time and effort if I can learn a text processing language. I got different recommendations and it seems that AWK and perl are on the...
  40. P

    Retired physicist and enjoy discussing physics

    Greetings everyone. I'm new here as you can see. I'm a retired physicist and enjoy discussing physics. Keeps the wheels in the noggin spinning. I look forward to many interesting conversations. I usually spend most of my time in forums helping people learn math and physics. I hope to be useful...
  41. 5

    Physics What is being a physicist really like?

    I was on another forum and someone asked what it was like to be a physicist. Pretty much all of the replies were depressing descriptions of high stress jobs that payed little which centered around doing either endless programming all day or doing boring experiments. I would like to be an...
  42. S

    Driving requires one to be a physicist

    It amazes me that some drivers seem to defy laws of physics concerning inertia, friction, and energy. While it isn't necessary to have a degree in physics to be a good driver, it certainly takes an intuitive understanding of physics. The materialist view, that the world is absolutely real, has...
  43. C

    Do I want to be a physicist? Is it too late?

    Greetings, I'll just start then I guess... I have a degree in computer engineering and am currently about half done with a master's in computer science. I'm certain on pursuing a Ph.D. but am not certain exactly what I want to do. During my undergrad I was often attracted to mathematics &...
  44. B

    Is a 3.6 GPA enough to pursue a career in physics?

    Long story short, I'm in high school now. Last year I got a C in Honors Biology but I have an A- in chemistry and a B+ in Honors algebra II/ trig. Despite my grades, I think I'm very good in math with a little bit of struggling when it comes to science. However, I'm really fascinated with...
  45. AakashPandita

    Physics I am an aspiring physicist. Should I learn C++?

    Besides physics, chemistry and math I was interested in studying psychology but I wanted to know if C++ could be more helpful to a physicist. Also I have a range of other subjects from where I can choose... Biology, Economics, biotech, history, Political Science, Web Designing, Physical...
  46. B

    Programming language for physicist

    I will be going into university this summer, and I intend to learn to code during the summer as it is important to physicist. I have virtually no programming experience. Which language is at the right level and can run complex physical simulations? thanks
  47. N

    Physics What Are the Chances of Becoming a Physics Professor in the US?

    Iam a high school student in India . I am very much interested in physics and i really want to take it up as a career . I plan to go to the United States to pursue my undergrad and graduate work . I want to be a theorist . I plan to get my Phd in physics . I can work really hard and i am pretty...
  48. N

    Becoming a Physicist: My Journey and Career Aspirations in Mathematical Physics

    Ok here is the thing . I am a 14 year old high school student in India starting grade 11 this year. Since i was 9 yrs old ( 6th grade ) i have been very interested in physics and math . I thought my self high school physics , the whole of resnick halliday's FOP , Single variable Calculus ...
  49. F

    Greatest work of physicist done in their 20s?

    Many of the world's greatest physicists made their biggest breakthroughs in their 20s- Dirac, Einstein, Pauli, Heisenberg, and Bohr, for example. (Einstein's GR was published in his 30s I believe, but in his 20s he published papers on SR, Brownian motion, and the photoelectric effect). Is this...
  50. V

    Portable laptop choice for a physicist?

    Hi, I am a norwegian Theoretical Physicist working on string theory I need to buy a new laptop that's portable and can handle heavy mathematica but it can't be to expensive though i have a budget that's around 1200$, i want it to be around 13"-14". Please reply as fast you can :)
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