Why Physics?

The Physics Department at WPI is small by comparision to other departments. However, it is an indispensible part of the first year experience for most students, working to enhance students' grasp of key concepts in problem solving, such as the use of vector-valued and complex-valued quantities. A broader goal of the department is to provide education in physics to both undergraduate and graduate students, and contribute to the growth of human knowledge through scholarly work.

Introduction

Ask a physicist what physics has to do with, and you are likely to be told: "Everything!" Though oversimplified, this answer does contain a kernel of truth. In their study of nature, physicists concern themselves with interactions involving matter and energy of every form.

Physicists' interests range from the tiny world of subatomic particles to stars, galaxies and the vast cosmic sea of space and time in which they travel. They have developed intricate tools to assist the human senses in probing these remote extremes of our natural environment. They have distilled their understanding of nature into laws of great generality and elegance, from the mathematical patterns needed to interpret the perfect symmetry and the regularity of atoms and crystals, to the powerful mathematical treatment of chaos and disorder needed to deal with the concept of heat.

Of course, not all physicists work at the very limits of our knowledge of nature. Many use their understanding of physics to develop practical applications that solve more familiar human problems. The pioneering work on semiconductors in the 1940s led to the development of computers, transistor radios and a communication network that is bringing the peoples of the world ever closer together. The laser, invented in the 1960s, has been used in such varied applications as eye surgery and radar, and even in computerized cash registers. The list of problems solved is long; the list of future possibilities is endless. So there is some truth in the statement that "physics has to do with everything."

One of the distinguishing characteristics of the physicist's approach is a cyclical growth pattern. Systematic experiments provide new facts. New theory is developed to summarize these facts and make them manageable. The new theory has as its consequences practical applications and new questions, leading to new experimentation. Along the way, physicists are guided by certain fundamental principles such as symmetry, continuity and conservation laws.

Students come to the study of physics from many backgrounds and for many reasons. Two aspects in particular seem to attract them. The first is the opportunity to choose from a wide range of intriguing subjects of study, both theoretical and experimental, both fundamental and applied. The second is the combination of intuitive ideas and the penetrating style of logical and mathematical problem-solving which students come to realize physics "has to do with."

Career Opportunities in Physics

Undergraduate physics programs were once formulated with the expectation that graduating students would enter postgraduate programs, where they would earn an advanced degree under the guidance of a practicing physicist. The long-term career objective was assumed to be a permanent position in an academic physics department, with interests divided between scientific research and teaching. Although this traditional outlook is still valid for many students entering the study of physics today, the unprecedented worldwide growth of sciencebased industries has led to exciting new career opportunities involving pure physics mixed with engineering and applied science. Many technically oriented students have also a deep interests in pure science; they are attracted to applied physics because it allows them to satisfy their scientific curiosity while at the same time pursuing the practical objectives of an engineer. In recognition of this new career choice the physics department offers a degree in engineering physics in addition to the traditional physics program. As shown in the sample programs below, students for this degree have great freedom to shape their program to match their individual interests.

Find out more!

On this website we present various opportunities for students in our department:

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Last modified: July 02, 2008 15:01:39