What are some of the more exotic things you learn for a degree in physics?

[Femme_physics]

Partly inspired by - https://www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?t=483456&page=2"

I'm curious, so putting mechanics/waves/fluids/gravity...basically all the fundamental learning material of physics, what are some of the more advanced or exotic subjects physicists study about for their physics degrees? Are there any fancy stuff that could possibly relate to engineering, or are way outside the realm of engineering?

 

[mal4mac]

How could engineers have know that 19th century experiments on electricity and radiation could open up such lucrative branches of engineering? There's no knowing what physics/mathematics might be useful -any of it could be - which is why capitalist societies throw a lot of tax money at physics/mathematics and allow strange and exotic subject to be studied.

So the engineer wanting to study "more physics" is right - it might lead to really innovative engineering. It might be a way to become a new Tesla or Edison! My wild guess would be to study stuff that is strange, hardly understood, but might have a *big* impact on the world.

If I were an engineer wanting to be the new Edison/Gates I would be avidly looking at quantum physics to see if quantum computing could be brought to reality. I think it would be far better to read all you can on quantum computing (if that idea floats your boat...) rather than trying to learn all the physics that a physicist learns. Learning, beyond what you're forced to learn, should be driven by problems that interest you - not by an arbitrary desire just to learn wht the guy next door is learning. Where's the fun in that? What use is that? Did Edison try to learn everything that Einstein knew, or vice versa. Of course not! They had better and more useful, and more fun, things to do.

For instance, I can't see how General Relativity might lead to "the next big engineering feat", so why on Earth would I study that in the depth that a physicist might...

Interesting that Bill Gates and Tim Berners-Lee didn't need any physics to become the biggest cheeses in the cutting-edge engineering of their time! So maybe the potential Edison needs to study cognitive science, or linguistics, or sociology (facebook!), or... who knows? Then again, maybe it's time for physics to make a come back in engineering...

 

[Femme_physics]

Reply of the year, mal4 :)

Curious to hear more feedback...

What's so special about quantum computing that it seems to be a focus of yours, if I may ask?

 

[hadsed]

It is quite literally the future of computing. There is a lot of interest in this, partly because you can take over the world if you make the first quantum computer and factor the huge primes associated with modern encryption. Also, anyone who needs intense computations done to solve problems, like aerospace engineers or astrophysicists, will be interested in this as well.

There's more stuff, but I think the main thing is to help scientists and engineers develop better theoretical models and for the obvious crypto applications.

 

[rezeew]

I can attest to the fact that there are many exotic and advanced subjects that physicists study in order to obtain their degrees. Some of these subjects include quantum mechanics, particle physics, astrophysics, and cosmology.

Quantum mechanics is the study of the behavior of matter and energy at a very small scale, such as the behavior of atoms and subatomic particles. This field is crucial for understanding the fundamental laws of physics and has led to many groundbreaking technologies, such as transistors and lasers.

Particle physics, on the other hand, is the study of the smallest building blocks of matter and their interactions. Physicists use powerful particle accelerators to study these particles and their properties, which has led to the discovery of new particles, such as the Higgs boson.

Astrophysics is the study of the behavior and properties of celestial objects, such as stars, galaxies, and black holes. This field combines principles from physics, astronomy, and mathematics to understand the universe and its origins.

Cosmology, on the other hand, is the study of the origin, evolution, and fate of the universe as a whole. This field involves studying the large-scale structure of the universe and the properties of dark matter and dark energy, which make up a majority of the universe.

Aside from these subjects, there are also more specialized fields of physics that are considered exotic and advanced. These include string theory, which attempts to merge quantum mechanics and general relativity, and condensed matter physics, which studies the properties of materials and their behavior at the atomic level.

In terms of engineering, many of these exotic subjects have practical applications, such as in the development of new materials, technologies, and energy sources. However, there are also areas of physics that are purely theoretical and may not have immediate engineering applications, but are still crucial for advancing our understanding of the universe.

Overall, obtaining a degree in physics requires a deep understanding of these exotic and advanced subjects, which continue to push the boundaries of our knowledge and lead to new discoveries and innovations.