Physicist 23269 223276835 2008-07-03T10:54:46Z ClueBot 4928500 Reverting possible vandalism by [[Special:Contributions/124.6.176.212|124.6.176.212]] to version by Wesselbindt. False positive? [[User:ClueBot/FalsePositives|Report it]]. Thanks, [[User:ClueBot]]. (431607) (Bot) {{for|the album by Devin Townsend|Physicist (Devin Townsend album)}} {{distinguish2|[[physician]], a person who practices medicine}} [[Image:Usaf-laser.jpg|thumb|right|Physicists working in a government lab]] A '''physicist''' is a [[scientist]] who studies or practices [[physics]]. Physicists study a wide range of physical phenomena in many [[Physics#Major fields of physics|branches of physics]] spanning all length scales: from [[atom|sub-atomic]] particles of which all ordinary matter is made ([[particle physics]]) to the behavior of the material [[Universe]] as a whole ([[physical cosmology|cosmology]]). ==Education== {{Globalize/North America|section}} Most material a student encounters in the undergraduate physics curriculum is based on discoveries and insights of a century or more in the past. [[Ibn al-Haytham|Alhazen]]'s intromission theory of [[light]] was formulated in the 11th century; [[Newton's laws of motion]] and [[Newton's law of universal gravitation]] were formulated in the 17th century; [[Maxwell's equations]], 19th century; and [[quantum mechanics]], early 20th century. The undergraduate physics curriculum generally includes the following range of courses: [[chemistry]], [[classical physics]], [[astronomy]], physics laboratory, [[electricity and magnetism]], [[thermodynamics]], [[optics]], [[modern physics]], [[quantum physics]], [[nuclear physics]], [[solid state physics]]. Undergraduate physics students must also take extensive mathematics courses ([[calculus]], [[differential equations]], advanced calculus), and computer science and programming. Undergraduate physics students often perform research with faculty members. Many positions, especially in research, require a [[doctoral degree]]. At the [[Master's degree|Master's]] level and higher, students tend to specialize in a particular field. Fields of specialization include experimental and theoretical [[astrophysics]], [[atomic physics]], [[molecular physics]], [[biophysics]], [[chemical physics]], [[geophysics]], [[material science]], [[nuclear physics]], [[optics]], [[particle physics]], and [[plasma physics]]<!-- somebody mention GR and special relativity, since you've got einsteins picture, and no mention of the words above -->. [[Post-doctoral]] experience may be required for certain positions. ==Employment== The three major employers of career physicists are academic institutions, government laboratories, and private industry, with the largest employer being the last.<ref>{{cite web| author=AIP Statistical Research Center | url=http://web.archive.org/web/20070113215906/http://www.aip.org/statistics/trends/highlite/emp/figure7.htm | title=Initial Employment Report, Fig. 7 | accessmonthday=21 Aug | accessyear=2006}} Also relevant is: {{cite web | author=Institute of Physics | url=http://www.iop.org/Our_Activities/Science_Policy/Statistics/Education%20Statistics/page_2680.html | title=Education Statistics, Graph 4.11 | accessmonthday=21 Aug | accessyear=2006}}</ref> Many people who are trained as physicists, however, use their skills in other parts of the economy, in particular in [[engineering]], [[computing]], and [[finance]]. Some physicists take up careers where their knowledge of physics can be combined with further training in other disciplines, such as [[patent attorney|patent law]] in industry or private practice. In the United States, a majority of those in the private sector with a physics degree work outside physics, astronomy and engineering altogether.<ref>{{cite web | author=AIP Statistical Research Center | url=http://www.aip.org/statistics/trends/highlite/emp/table1.htm | title=Initial Employment Report, Table 1 | accessmonthday=21 Aug | accessyear=2006}}</ref> <!--This is where [[chemist]] talks about subdisciplines, but I'm not sure how easy it'd be to limit ourselves here --> ==Honors and Awards== The highest honor awarded to physicists is the [[Nobel Prize in Physics]], awarded since 1901 by the [[Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences]]. {{Nobel Prize in Physics}} == See also == [[Image:Albert Einstein 1947.jpg|thumb|right|[[Albert Einstein]], One of the world's most well-known physicists]] * [[American Institute of Physics]] * [[Engineering physics]] * [[Institute of Physics]] (UK & Ireland) * [[History of physics]] * [[List of physicists]] * [[Nobel Prize in physics]] * [[Professional physicist]] ==References== {{reflist}} == External links == * [http://www.bls.gov/oco/home.htm Occupational Outlook Handbook] * [http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos052.htm Physicists and Astronomers]; US Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics *[http://www.aip.org/statistics/ Education and employment statistics] from the American Institute of Physics === Further reading === *{{cite journal| title=What works for women in physics? |journal=[[Physics Today]] |url=http://www.aip.org/pt/vol-56/iss-9/p46.html |volume=56 |issue=9 |pages=46| doi=10.1063/1.1620834| year=2003| author=Whitten, Barbara L.}} *{{cite journal |title= The Physics Job Market: From Bear to Bull in a Decade |url=http://www.aip.org/pt/vol-54/iss-4/p36.html |journal=Physics Today |volume=54 |issue=4 |pages=36 |doi= 10.1063/1.1372112 |year= 2001 |author= Kirby, Kate}} [[Category:Physicists| ]] [[Category:Physics]] [[bs:Fizičar]] [[da:Fysiker]] [[de:Physiker]] [[el:Φυσικός]] [[es:Físico]] [[eo:Fizikisto]] [[fr:Physicien]] [[ko:물리학자]] [[hr:Fizičar]] [[it:Fisico]] [[he:פיזיקאי]] [[lb:Physiker]] [[nl:natuurkundige]] [[ja:物理学者]] [[simple:Physicist]] [[sk:Fyzik]] [[sl:fizik]] [[fi:Fyysikko]] [[th:นักฟิสิกส์]] [[vi:Nhà vật lý]] [[zh:物理学家]]