Is physics a dying field?

Answer 1

Only in America.

Addendum: soundsgood is right that physics as a science isn't dying. It's going on like gangbusters, it's moving in new directions that the public isn't even yet generally aware of. It's just that here in America, with all this anti-science attitudes that we have, physics seem to be dying out. All the big physics projects are going overseas, just like all of our manufacturing and jobs.

Too many American school kids don't even believe in science any more, much less understand it.

America the STUPID.

Answer 2

these two answers are both completely wrong.

Completely.

Physics will never be a 'dying' field until every question has been answered... and we are far from that point of existence.

Quantum Mechanics has brought about new light for theoretical physicists. String Theory gives even more groundbreaking ideas and room for thought.

Applied Physicists and Experimental Physicists are still highly needed. Take the energy crisis the world has for instance. Physicists are being employed to potentially come up with alternate sources of energy. Medical Physicists constantly experiment with radiation to improve on ways to diagnose bodily problems without surgery or any intrusive (such as needles) operation.

Physics is not simply limited to determining whether or not an apple will fall from a tree or not.

Astrophysics, Engineering Physics, Quantum, Nuclear, Medical... Its such a broad category. Look at the salaries of physicists and the job requests. Jobs are out there, Students are out there, and there is plenty of money to be made in many different ways.

Please explain in which way this is a Dying or Dead Field.

and to the asker, I hope this helped.

Answer 3

As to the state of physics as a science, I think it's quite safe. There are lots of problems we know of which we can't yet solve, and odds are there are problems we don't know about yet which will need solving. And who knows what practical applications will come out of all of it.

As to whether the career of physics is dying due to lack of interest from students, I have to disagree. While the public's understanding of physics may not be great by any means, particularly those who only studied it in high school, college physics is pretty good, if generally pretty rough (which, unfortunately discourages people from taking it, because they'd rather get an easy A in whatever "Science for People Who Know Nothing About It and Never Will" class the college offers to fulfill the science requirement than struggle and maybe pass an introductory physics course).

Once you get past the intro classes though, physics majors tend to do alright, and a fair number of them go onto grad school. Of course, it would be nice if more people decided to give it a try (and lord knows the grad schools would like more good American applicants), because I think there are a lot of people out there who could do good in it. Of course, Physics competes with engineering, computer science, chemistry, mathematics, etc for students (it basically takes a similar mindset to tackle all those fields), some of which do better than physics right out of college. And physics doesn't have the excitement around it it had 40 years ago in the middle of the space race and such (not that it's not exciting, just that the excitement is more well hidden).

Of course, all else fails, there are all the international students coming to the US to study Physics, many of whom will stay and become American citizens in the good old tradition of the land of opportunity.

I guess I'm an optimist, and I'm certainly optimistic about physics.

Answer 4

If you have to ask, then its probably not for you. Assuming you are not a polymath, there are very limited job opportunities. If you're in the top 0.5% of the job pool you will certainly be able to land a job. But given that this job pool is made up of really bright people, if you don't have the inner passion for it (in which case the salary wouldn't be an issue) then I'd respectfully suggest you avoid Astronomy or Astrophysics and stick to Physics. Its not just a question of 1st year (or even 10th year) salary. Its also a question of opportunity cost. You pay for the 8 - 10 years you're in school. With that huge debt your first year (and second and third) salary will be worse than if you go to work in a McJob. Ok, I exaggerate slightly. But getting a PhD is a long expensive road where the motivation is not $$. ask AngelaS about what i've written - I am not in this area of science, but recruiters tend to see their field thru rose colored glasses.

Answer 5

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The study of physics is evolving. I think it is about to become very very popular for the new generation of students.

Unlocking Aptitude
http://www.ua-kits.com

There is a group that is promoting the study of spacetime manipulation. But I believe its real purpose is to promote the interest in the sciences and teaching common sense.

The website provides the tools to create new clubs related to spacetime manipulation in every city.

The premise is the saving of humanity from global extinction events that can not be stopped by all the energy available within the Earth. That it will take time to develop, so we can not what until the last minute to do something.

The current generation of people are being called Generation Z, the uninspired sleeping generation.

Proposed on the website is that the next generation of people be called Generation ST, to honor the wide spread development of spacetime technologies.


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Answer 6

and in other places, it's long been dead.