Physics: the basic subfields

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Physics the basic subfields

• The fundamental physical laws
• Classical mechanics (PHY 110, 220, 320, 380.03)
• Electromagnetism (PHY 111,112, 240, 340, 330)
• Thermodynamics (PHY 111, 325)
• Quantum physics (PHY 112, 284, 384, 355, 287)
• (including atoms, molecules, solids, nuclei,
  fundamental particles)
• Statistical mechanics (PHY 111, 325, 380.03)
• General Relativity (PHY 207, 287 Indep. study!)

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Physics Whats that field?

• Determine the motion of spacecraft in the solar
  system for NASA missions
• mechanics, general relativity
• Determine the motion of atoms in a solid as it is
  heated
• quantum physics, mechanics, statistical
  mechanics
• Explain how lightning is generated in a
  thunderstorm
• electromagnetism, quantum mechanics, statistical
  mechanics

3
Physics Whats that field? 2

• Design a new high intensity blue laser
• quantum physics, electromagnetism
• Try to reduce the production of waste heat in a
  diesel engine
• thermodynamics, statistical mechanics
• Derive the chemical law of 'detailed balance'
  from the behavior of atoms and molecules
• statistical mechanics

4
Physics Whats that field? 3

• Measure the bending of light around the planet
  Jupiter due to its gravitational field
• general relativity, electromagnetism
• Figure out how a particle-antiparticle pair is
  created out of the vacuum in a particle
  accelerator
• quantum physics, statistical mechanics, EM
• Determine how far into the future the weather can
  be predicted
• statistical mechanics, mechanics
• Understand the universe all subfields

5
Methodologies of Physics

• Experimental Physics
• Observe nature (e.g. astro, geophysics)
• Prod Nature into revealing secrets (laboratory
  experiments)
• Theoretical Physics
• Build theoretical models of reality
• Solve models mathematically
• Computational Physics
• Build computational models of reality
• Solve models via computer simulation

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Methodologies in ISU Physics Courses

• Experimental Physics
• PHY 110, 111, 112 lab
• PHY 270, 370 (advanced lab), 375
• PHY 311, 312 (PTE)
• Theoretical Physics
• PHY 217, 220, 240, 284
• PHY 325, 320, 340, 384, 355
• Computational Physics
• PHY 112 lab projects in many courses
• PHY 318, 388, 390 (CompPhys)
• PHY 302 (PTE)