Theoretical physicist Definition and 91 Threads

Theoretical physics is a branch of physics that employs mathematical models and abstractions of physical objects and systems to rationalize, explain and predict natural phenomena. This is in contrast to experimental physics, which uses experimental tools to probe these phenomena.
The advancement of science generally depends on the interplay between experimental studies and theory. In some cases, theoretical physics adheres to standards of mathematical rigour while giving little weight to experiments and observations. For example, while developing special relativity, Albert Einstein was concerned with the Lorentz transformation which left Maxwell's equations invariant, but was apparently uninterested in the Michelson–Morley experiment on Earth's drift through a luminiferous aether. Conversely, Einstein was awarded the Nobel Prize for explaining the photoelectric effect, previously an experimental result lacking a theoretical formulation.

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  1. 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...
  2. C

    Physics Jobs for theoretical physicist outside academia

    Hello, I would like to know what can do theoretical physicist who don't get a job in academia, after a phd in theoretical physics or after a postdoc for example. I am thinking about people working in theoretical high energy physics, cosmology or things like that. If we compare the number of...
  3. A

    Courses Math Courses for Theoretical Physicist to be (Hopefully)

    I am currently a sophomore majoring in physics in college. I also plan to major in math because I am very interested in theoretical physics. The math adviser that I spoke to could not give me much information on what math subjects are important for a career path in theoretical physics, so if...
  4. I

    Becoming a Great Theoretical Physicist by Gerard 't Hooft

    Hey, I came across (http://www.staff.science.uu.nl/~hooft101/theorist.html) in which Gerard 't Hooft has written a guide on becoming a good theoretical physicist and was wondering if anyone is using it, and if so d'you like it?
  5. J

    Good personal computer for a theoretical physicist

    Hi, I am a graduate physics student and I am looking to buy a new desktop. I was wondering if anyone had any opinion on a great desktop for a theoretical physicist. I mostly use mathematica for symbolic computations but from time to time I use C or C++ to write numerical programs. Any...
  6. H

    Physics Graduate in Computer can be theoretical Physicist?

    Hi friends, I am Harsh kumar from India. I am a computer graduate, with a good sense of district Mathematics. I always want to be an theoretical physicist but i unfortunately ended with computer graduation due to my personal reasons I am physically handicap, never mind that, but as my life leads...
  7. K

    Physics Can someone be a theoretical physicist and still believe in God?

    I am a devout mulim and I love physics so can someone be a theoretical physicist and still be a religious person who believes in God?
  8. K

    How well does a theoretical physicist have to know his math?

    Like are we talking about just as well as a mathematician or does he have to know the properties of structure in math that he's studying. Not really the rigour but more like what properties it has and what it can do.
  9. F

    No Higgs [at the LHC] - Anthem of a young theoretical physicist.

    Thought some people here might enjoy a little video we made: For context: Everybody involved in this project, in front of and behind the camera, is actually a theoretical physicist. This should obviously be taken as tongue in cheek, and it is not directed against string theory in...
  10. T

    Physics I'm told that theoretical physicist can go into investment banking

    Hi guys so I'm told that theoretical physicist can go into investment banking. How true is this still? I have an offer to do the Quantum fields and fundamental forces (QFFF) Msc course at imperial its suppose to be very good - however it contains no computational modules. I do have the option to...
  11. A

    Can a pure mathematician be a professional theoretical physicist?

    the title says everything. I'm studying pure-mathematics as a freshman but I also like to understand subjects like GR and QM. I have a good understanding of Newtonian mechanics and the classic theory of electrodynamics but I have found quantum mechanics and general relativity so confusing and...
  12. T

    Theoretical physicist says universe has radius=10cm

    Hello everyone. I was just reading Ian Stewart's "Concepts of Modern Mathematics". In the end of the first chapter he writes A certain theoretical physicist secured himself a mighty reputation on the basis of his deduction, on very general mathematical grounds, of a formula for the radius...
  13. Q

    How Talented Must You Be to Become a Theoretical Physicist?

    Being a theoretical physicist... Do i need to be that talented or genius to be theoretical physicist...?
  14. Q

    Becoming a Theoretical Physicist for A-Level Students

    Theoretical physicist... I'm an A-level student...i want to be a theoretical physicist...what am i supposed to do right now...can anyone guide me...i know i should have been a bit specific while asking this...but i want to have a general guidence for it...!...thanks for any kind of help...
  15. T

    Physics Difference between a Theoretical Physicist and an Astrophysicist?

    What are the difference? What does each one specialize in? I've tried looking on google but I can't really find anything that explains exactly what they do.
  16. J

    Physics Being a good theoretical physicist

    Hello everyone. I'm a 11th grader who plans on becoming a theoretical physicist. In fact, for most of the time, the only thing that goes in my head is trying to think of an idea to find a better alternative to quantum mechanics, as I feel that it is not in accordance with nature. I have the...
  17. FeDeX_LaTeX

    Physics What is a Theoretical Physicist?

    Hello; What is a theoretical physicist? Is it someone who studies theoretical physics? If so, what is theoretical physics? If I say I am a theoretical physicist, what do I do? Does this mean that I don't do any experimentation to test my hypotheses as that would make me an experimental...
  18. D

    Physics Theoretical Physicist: A Normal Day & Salary

    I've recently been getting interested in physics and astronomy and have even thought about going to school and starting a career in physics. Of course, this is just consideration and I'm going to learn more about it and different jobs before I even think about taking any kind of step further. Of...
  19. P

    What Fields Can a Theoretical Physicist Focus on Besides String Theory?

    Ok, i have come to a realisation that my interests revolve not around pure mathematics (as i once thought) and more around theoretical physics, some people would claim that they merge into one at times, and that leads on to my question. If i wanted to be a theoretical physicist (rather than an...
  20. W

    Physics Language for a theoretical physicist

    Hi, I am an undergrad majoring in Physics. I want to be a theoretical physicist. What language would help me more (in any way)? German or Chinese? Thanks,
  21. A

    Schools Advice for a first year high schooler who wishes to be a theoretical physicist

    Hello there, I am currently 14 and 1 and a half weeks away from starting high school and over my summer break I've developed a strong fascination in theoretical physics, especially in the brane theory(which involves the notion that there are actually 11 dimensions of space and one of time) and I...
  22. P

    What is the lifetyle of a theoretical physicist like?

    Honestly, I haven't got a clue. Well I do, but I'm quite sure it's fictional. EDIT: Maybe I should have explained what I meant by "lifestyle". Exactly what do they do? I know an experimental physicist would go to a lab and perform experiments which would yield results. What does a theoretical...
  23. E

    Dilemma: pathway to be theoretical physicist

    Hi there! First let me put some background here: 1. I'm an undergraduate student from (an not-well-known) university in Malaysia. Currently studying Bsc Physics, at my final year. 2. I am very interested in theoretical physics. (but not certain which subfield, of course) 3. I was stuck...
  24. P

    Physics Become a Theoretical Physicist: College Major & Career Info

    I just saw a show by Stephen Hawking about how the universe came to be and what it is now and I was really interested. I guess I have two questions. First, what would one study or major in during college to do stuff like what he's doing? Second, what kind of jobs do these people get and what's...
  25. E

    Life of a Theoretical Physicist?

    I am a junior in high school in AP Physics. Although not in the curriculum, I have been reading about theoretical quantum mechanics, string theory, et cetera for the past few months and I am extremely intrigued. If I do end up furthering my "physics career," where might it take me? There...
  26. V

    Physics 2nd year theoretical physicist thinking about summer placements - where to look?

    It's suddenly started creeping up on me that the degree is almost over, barely having even started, and I was wondering about internships and things. We've just been sent an email by the department about penultimate year internships, which as I'm on a 4 year course I'm not that far yet. Still...
  27. H

    Theoretical physicist? mathematician? mathematical physicist?

    i'm on first year of physics studies, but i got a little dilemma - do i want to be a mathematician, or phycist? I'm thinking about being theoretical physicist - but at the moment - math is much much more interesting to me than physics. I think that may change when i'll start to learn about...
  28. B

    How a Theoretical Physicist Makes Themselves Useful to Society?

    How have some of you used your knowledge of physics to serve others, and be a contributing member of society? Or: any suggestions?
  29. T

    Can You Be an Experimental and Theoretical Physicist?

    I would like to build stuff and conduct experiments but i would also like to take walks in the park think of theories. So how do i choose between these two. Maybe i can become an experimental physicist and then come home and write a bunch of stuff. Can you be both an experimental and theoretical...
  30. P

    Freshman Theoretical Physicist: Admissions Info for CalTech/MIT/Harvard

    I'm a freshman at Amherst College in my first college physics course (actually an E&M course). I was doing poorly at first (B-/B) but have gotten into the swing of things and am thoroughly enjoying the theory portion of the class(the experiments are also fun but are sometimes tedious). I have...
  31. X

    How much math do you need to become a theoretical physicist?

    I kind of doubt that I have the intelligence to become a theorist but let's just pretend for a minute that I do. How much math would I need to learn? So far I've completed multivariable calculus and linear algebra and the only other math course that I'm required to do for my physics major is...
  32. J

    Physics A day in the life of a theoretical physicist

    I've always wondered what a day in the life of an academic is like, particularly mathematicians, philosophers, and most of all theoretical physicists. So what's an average day like for a theoretical physicist? Do you sit in your thinking chairs, lost deep in thought, trying to unwind...
  33. X

    Physics The job of a theoretical physicist

    I had some questions in my mind due to lack of experience... experienced people can give answers to this post... :) I often wonder, what theoretical physicists do on for years and years... Do they sit at home with a pen and paper and think? Are they focused more on academics or research...
  34. J

    Question about being theoretical physicist

    I need help on this one immediately!
  35. P

    List of topics that theoretical physicist has to master?

    hello guys, this is my first post here.. i am a engineering physics undergraduate. however i hv more interest in theoretical physics and i want to hv further study in theoretical physics. The subjects taught in my programme is like applied physics which do not hv so much theory. I think...
  36. I

    How much math should a theoretical physicist know?

    i bet it's written down somewhere in the "so you want to be a physicist thread" but I am asking anyway? i like math, a whole lot, so the question is not what do i have to overcome but what do i have to look forward to? i wouldn't mind taking every single math and physics class offered at my uni...
  37. O

    Engineer -> Experimental Physicist -> Theoretical Physicist

    New member ! This is my first post. Long ago, I remember one of my friends talking about how engineers dream of becoming experimental physicists who in turn dream of becoming theoretical physicists. I remember the context but don't remember whether it was an explicit joke or musings of some...
  38. S

    How To Become A Theoretical Physicist

    It seems like there is no specific Theoretical Physics major. You can major in Astrophysics, Biophysics, Chemical Physics, Engineering Physics, and just plain Physics. At the master/doctorate level you have to specialize in astrophysics, biophysics, chemical physics, geophysics, material...
  39. E

    What's it like to be a theoretical physicist?

    Can anyone give me a description? Maybe I should ask some questions too. Do most theoretical physicists work alone or with colleagues? Do most theoretical physicists work at home? What do you need while doing your work? Just pen and paper? Or do most need books to refer to? I basically...
  40. S

    Job Description of a Theoretical Physicist

    Can someone give me a general job description of a Theoretical Physicist? First of all let me make sure that I am going for the right profession. I very interested in wormholes, black holes, galaxies, speed of light, and many other aspects of the overall universe but most of all I am very...
  41. Greg Bernhardt

    Interview with Theoretical Physicist Michio Kaku

    Continue reading...
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