Physicist
Physicists study the behaviour of the physical world at the
most basic level, and then find practical ways to apply new
knowledge gained from their research in many areas of science
and technology.
A physicist is usually identified within three broad roles:
- theoretical physicists who develop theories or models of
how particular aspects of the world work
- experimental physicists who test these theories,
determining their limits and suggesting new approaches to
them
- applied physicists who apply these findings in practical
settings, such as within industry and through the
introduction of new technology.
There is interaction between all three roles and physicists
generally have skills in each of these areas.
A physicist may perform the following tasks:
- observe and measure phenomena in the physical world,
from the smallest sub-atomic particle through to the
universe as a whole
- propose theories and models to explain those phenomena
- use computers to explore the consequences of those
theories and models
- build equipment to make new types of measurement which,
in many cases, may never have been attempted before
- create new ways of understanding observations that have
been made, including through developing completely new
approaches
- use knowledge and/or technology developed from their
work to develop new materials, products and processes for
use in industry, medicine, defence and other areas of
research and development.
Some fields in which physicists work are:
Astronomy which is the study of the characteristics
of the stars and galaxies. It has given us practical spin-offs
such as aircraft landing systems, CAT scanners used in
hospitals, deep space communications, remote imaging and
satellite experiments.
See the entry for Astronomer for more information.
Atmospheric and Environmental Physics which is the
study of the environment. It is studied to understand the ways
in which our environment works and how various aspects of the
environment interact with each other. This work can be applied
in agricultural, meteorological and environmental studies.
Atomic and Molecular Physics which is the study of
the behaviour and structure of atoms and molecules. This work
provides knowledge about atoms and molecules, and also
provides much information which is incorporated in new
products such as in the electronic industries.
Cosmology which is the study of the characteristics
and development of the universe as a whole. The mathematical
nature of this subject, and the challenges it poses, can lead
to new mathematical ideas and theories. The development of the
global positioning system (GPS) was based on work conducted in
this area of physics.
Medical and Health Physics which is the use of
physics in hospitals and in developing and monitoring safety
limits in many workplaces. Medical physicists develop and
operate medical radiation therapy equipment.
Nuclear Physics and Particle Physics which is the
study of the structure of the nuclei of atoms and particles
that make up those nuclei. This helps our understanding of how
the world works at the most basic level. These studies are
vital in their own right, but have also given us new
techniques in medical therapy and techniques which are
commonly used in industry for quality control and product
monitoring.
Optical Physics which investigates the properties
and behaviour of light. Physicists in this field develop new
devices such as lasers and lenses, or refine techniques such
as holography for new purposes, as in high-speed computing.
Fibre-optic technology and optoelectronics are exciting
applications in this area.
Solid and Liquid State or Condensed Matter Physics
which is the study of the properties and behaviour of
solid and liquid materials under many conditions. This work
has led to the field of solid state electronics, in which new
devices for future generations of computers and consumer
products are being developed.
Physicists may work in many other areas, including
acoustics, biophysics, thermal physics, geophysics and
teaching.
Physicists may work independently or as a member of a team
with other professionals in a broad range of both the public
and private sectors, and industry, commerce, scientific
research, health and education.
Required Skills - Physicist
- aptitude for analysis and problem-solving
- enjoy research
- aptitude for maths and computing
- able to visualise and explain ideas clearly
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