April 21, 2004Ithaca High School Career Day Careers in Physics M. Billing Director of Operations.

April 21, 2004 Ithaca High School Career Day

Careers in Physics

M. Billing

Director of Operations


Branches of PhysicsBranches of Physics

• Astronomy/Astrophysics

• Classical Physics• Low Temperature

Physics• Plasma Physics• Quantum Physics• Atomic & Solid State

Physics

• Relativistic Physics

• Stars, Galaxies, Cosmos• Light, Heat, Motion,

Electricity, Magnetism• Superconductivity• Discharge tubes, Fusion• Lasers, LED's, Fiber

Optics, Quantum Dots• Material Science,

Semiconductors, Surface Physics, Nanotechnology

• Stars, Cosmology, Particle Physics

Physics is the study of the nature of matter andthe way that it reacts with its surroundings.

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Branches of PhysicsBranches of Physics

• Macromolecular “Biology”

• Accelerator Physics

• Nuclear Physics

• High Energy Particle Physics

• Virus crystallography

• Particle Accelerators, RF Devices, X-ray

• Nuclei, Fission, Radiation Therapy

• Subatomic Physics, Quarks, Tomography

Physics is the study of the nature of matter andthe way that it reacts with its surroundings.

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Quick Tour of Some ProfessionsAstronomer / Astrophysicist


Quick Tour of Some Professions

Cornell Big Red and the RoboRoos from University of Queensland, Australia, after Big Red defeated the RoboRoos by a score of 1-0 in overtime to win the 2003 World Championship in Padua, Italy.

Engineering: Electrical, Chemical, Ceramic, Mechanical, Industrial, etc.


Quick Tour of Some ProfessionsMaterial Scientist / Low Temperature Scientist


Quick Tour of Some ProfessionsPlasma Physicist

Magnetohydrodynamics



Macromolecular Biologist



Atomic Physicist Nanotechnologist


Quick Tour of Some ProfessionsParticle Accelerator

Physicist



Nuclear Physicist Nuclear Medicine

Tomography


Quick Tour of Some ProfessionsHigh Energy

Particle Physicist


Subdivisions within Physics• Theoretical - creates theories and models

• Experimental - observes & measures effects

• Research - creates knowledge

• Applied - engineers solutions to future problems

• Academic - teaches & performs scholarly research

• Industrial - creates practical products

• Managerial - oversees research or engineering


Conclusions from the Quick Tour

Some Basic Conclusions about a Physics Education

•Learn Underlying Principles & Concepts of Physics

•Learn How to Apply these to a Wide Variety of Problems

•Learn to View Problems as a Generalist

•Able to Crossover Between Different Disciplines of Study

•Physicists Tend to be Employed as Persons with Many Skills


Educational Levels in Physics• (High School preparation)

– Mathematics, natural sciences

• Bachelors Degree (4-5 years)– BA or BS in Physics, BS in Engineering Physics– Vector calculus, differential equations, chemistry; Physics:

mechanics, E&M, optics, quantum, thermodynamics

• Masters Degree (typically 2 years) - MS in Physics– Advanced math; Physics: advanced levels of above + solid

state, particle theory, nuclear, plasma, astrophysics, …

• Doctors Degree (typically 3-5 years) - PhD in Physics– Research & write a doctoral thesis


More Information Found:

http://www.aip.org/statistics/trends/phystrends.htm


My Experiences: First Indications

• Always was asking: How does this or that work?

• Not afraid to ask questions

• Liked to solve puzzles, create things

• Looked for ways to learn about science or math– Looked things up in library, Read, Drew sketches,

Thought about different ideas, (Search Web)


My Experiences: Middle School & High School

• Enjoyed science: Especially chemistry & physics

• Enjoyed science exhibits or museums– Wanted to learn more, to visualize– Liked to do science projects

• Became good at math– Began with solving math puzzles– Problem solving, geometry, trig

• Enjoyed reading books about science– Not “science texts,” but books that allowed me to “see” the

science and its applications


Additional Useful Information for Physics as a Career

http://www.physics.cornell.edu/physics/undergradstudies/majors.menu.html

http://www.aip.org/education.html

http://www.aps.org/jobs/index.cfm

http://www.aps.org/educ/program.cfm

http://www.aip.org/statistics/trends/phystrends.htm

April 21, 2004Ithaca High School Career Day Careers in Physics M. Billing Director of Operations.

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