Aphysicist is ascientist who specializes in the field ofphysics, which encompasses the interactions of matter and energy at all length and time scales in the physical universe.[1][2] Physicists generally are interested in the root or ultimate causes ofphenomena, and usually frame their understanding in mathematical terms. They work across a wide range ofresearch fields, spanning all length scales: fromsub-atomic andparticle physics, throughbiological physics, tocosmological length scales encompassing theuniverse as a whole. The field generally includes two types of physicists:experimental physicists who specialize in the observation of natural phenomena and the development and analysis of experiments, andtheoretical physicists who specialize in mathematical modeling of physical systems to rationalize, explain and predict natural phenomena.[1]
In an 18th-century experiment in "natural philosophy" (later to be called "physics") English scientistFrancis Hauksbee works with an early electrostatic generator.
The broad and general study of nature,natural philosophy, was divided into several fields in the 19th century, when the concept of "science" received its modern shape. Specific categories emerged, such as "biology" and "biologist", "physics" and "physicist", "chemistry" and "chemist", among other technical fields and titles.[6] The termphysicist was coined byWilliam Whewell (also the originator of the term "scientist") in his 1840 bookThe Philosophy of the Inductive Sciences.[7]
Any physics-oriented career position requires at least an undergraduate degree in physics or applied physics, while career options widen with amaster's degree like MSc, MPhil, MPhys or MSci.[11]
Experimental physicists at work at the accelerator laboratory of theUniversity of Jyväskylä (Finland)
The three major employers of career physicists are academic institutions, laboratories, and private industries, with the largest employer being the last. Physicists in academia or government labs tend to have titles such as Assistants,Professors, Sr./Jr. Scientist, orpostdocs. As per theAmerican Institute of Physics, some 20% of new physics Ph.D.s holds jobs in engineering development programs, while 14% turn to computer software and about 11% are in business/education.[12] A majority of physicists employed apply their skills and training to interdisciplinary sectors (e.g.finance[13]).[14]
The majority of Physics terminal bachelor's degree holders are employed in the private sector. Other fields are academia, government and military service, nonprofit entities, labs and teaching.[19]
Typical duties of physicists with master's and doctoral degrees working in their domain involve research, observation and analysis, data preparation, instrumentation, design and development of industrial or medical equipment,computing and software development, etc.[20]
The highest honor awarded to physicists is theNobel Prize in Physics, awarded since 1901 by theRoyal Swedish Academy of Sciences.[21] National physical societies have many prizes and awards for professional recognition. In the case of theAmerican Physical Society, as of 2023, there are 25 separate prizes and 33 separate awards in the field.
Chartered Physicist (CPhys) is a chartered status and a professional qualification awarded by theInstitute of Physics. It is denoted by the postnominals "CPhys".
Achieving chartered status in any profession denotes to the wider community a high level of specialised subject knowledge and professional competence. According to the Institute of Physics, holders of the award of the Chartered Physicist (CPhys) demonstrate the "highest standards of professionalism, up-to-date expertise, quality and safety" along with "the capacity to undertake independent practice and exercise leadership" as well as "commitment to keep pace with advancing knowledge and with the increasing expectations and requirements for which any profession must take responsibility".
Chartered Physicist is considered to be equal in status to Chartered Engineer, which the IoP also awards as a member of the Engineering Council UK, and other chartered statuses in the UK. It is also considered a "regulated profession" under the European professional qualification directives.
TheCanadian Association of Physicists can appoint an official designation calledProfessional Physicist (P. Phys.),[22] similar to the designation ofProfessional Engineer (P. Eng.). This designation was unveiled at the CAP congress in 1999 and already more than 200 people carry this distinction.
To get the certification, at minimum proof of honours bachelor or higher degree in physics or a closely related discipline must be provided. Also, the physicist must have completed, or be about to complete, three years of recent physics-related work experience after graduation. And, unless exempted, a professional practice examination must also be passed. An exemption can be granted to a candidate that has practiced physics for at least seven years and provide a detailed description of their professional accomplishments which clearly demonstrate that the exam is not necessary.
Work experience will be considered physics-related if it uses physics directly or significantly uses the modes of thought (such as the approach to problem-solving) developed in your education or experience as a physicist, in all cases regardless of whether the experience is in academia, industry, government, or elsewhere. Management of physics-related work qualifies, and so does appropriate graduate student work.
The South African Institute of Physics also delivers a certification of Professional Physicist (Pr.Phys).[23] At a minimum, the owner must possess a three-year bachelors or equivalent degree in physics or a related field and an additional minimum of six years' experience in a physics-related activity; or an Honor or equivalent degree in physics or a related field and an additional minimum of five years' experience in a physics-related activity; or master or equivalent degree in physics or a related field and an additional minimum of three years' experience in a physics-related activity; a Doctorate or equivalent degree in Physics or a related field; or training or experience which, in the opinion of the Council, is equivalent to any of the above.
^Cahan, David, ed. (2003).From Natural Philosophy to the Sciences: Writing the History of Nineteenth-Century Science. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.ISBN0-226-08928-2.
^Donald S. L. Cardwell, James Joule: A Biography, Manchester University Press - 1989, page 18
^Wachter, Armin; Hoeber, Henning (2006).Compendium of Theoretical Physics. New York, NY: Springer.ISBN0-387-25799-3.
^Krey, Uwe; Owen, Anthony (2007).Basic Theoretical Physics : A concise overview (1st ed.). Berlin: Springer.ISBN978-3-540-36804-5.
^Kompaneyets, Alexander Solomonovich (2012).Theoretical physics (2nd ed.). Mineola, New York: Dover.ISBN978-0-486-60972-0.
^"Physicist".nationalcareersservice.direct.gov.uk. National Careers Service, United Kingdom. 7 October 2016.
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