The Scope of Physics

A lot of people don’t have a grasp of the scope of physics, even some physics students themselves; don’t quite grasp the reach of physics. Most students associate physics with teaching. There’s actually a large array of possibilities for physics graduates. Physics branches out in almost all scientific fields.

To give you an idea here are some branches/extensions to physics that physics majors can associate to or proceed into:

PURE PHYSICS [formation of the body of physics through facts]:
1. Astrophysics – physical nature of stars, galaxies and the universe. It branches into fields such as:
....i. Cosmology
....ii. Cosmogony
....iii. Astronautics
....iv. Astrodynamics
........1. Celestial Mechanics
....v. Radar & Radio Astronomy
2. Biophysics – study of energy in living things
3. Cryogenics – energy of substances at very low temperatures
4. Electricity & Magnetism – effects of electromagnetic fields
5. Electronics – the flow of electrons and electronic circuits
6. Geophysics – physics in the earth, which branches out further into:
....i. Cosmic physics
....ii. Geodesy
....iii. Geomagnetology
....iv. Glaciology
....v. Isostasy
7. Mathematical Physics – the use of math to explain phenomena, which branches further into:
....i. Computational physics
....ii. Chaos theory
....iii. Relativistic physics
8. Mechanics – interaction of forces and energy on bodies/fluids at rest or in motion. Mechanics branches out to:
....i. Dynamics
....ii. Aerodynamics
....iii. Hydrodynamics
....iv. Fluid dynamics
9. Nuclear Physics – nuclear reactions
10. Optics – light and electromagnetic spectrum just above x-rays to just below microwaves
11. Particle Physics – behavior and properties of elementary particles
12. Plasma Physics – ionized particles and study of their properties
13. Quantum Physics – quantum theory of matter – electromagnetic wave interaction
14. Solid State Physics – condensed matter physics, branches to crystallography
15. Sound – properties of sound waves, which branches further into:
i. Acoustics
ii. Ultrasonics
16. Statistical mechanics – statistical relationship between macroscopic and microscopic physics
17. Thermodynamics – heat in terms of molecular motion

APPLIED PHYSICS [putting knowledge of physics to use, to help mankind]:
1. Engineering – harnessing materials, forces, and energy so they can be of use to man. It branches to:
....i. Engineering
....ii. Electronics
....iii. Metallurgical engineering
2. Optometry – knowledge of optics as applied to vision, whether for living things or instruments



Furthermore, you could also classify Physics into two:
CLASSICAL PHYSICS:
Mechanics, Heat & Thermodynamics, Electricity & Magnetism, Sound & Acoustics, Light & Optics;

MODERN PHYSICS:
Atomic Physics, Plasma Physics, Molecular Physics, Solid-State Physics, Nuclear Physics, Quantum Mechanics, Cryogenics/Low Temperature Physics, Relativistic Mechanics, Particle Physics.

Also, physics graduate are also in demand in other lines of work because of their high-level math skills.