Which branch/area of Physics do you find more Challenging?

Question

i.e. Mechanics, waves, etc.

Answer 1

Well I'd say elementary particle physics, but I'm biased since that's my specialty.

This is a quote from an astro prof talking to first year grads about which specialty they should go into:

"Unless you're Dick Feynman (ie far more brilliant than most mere mortals), don't bother with particle theory. You aren't going to figure out anything new. On the other hand, some seriously dull astronomers have made great contributions to the field."

Answer 2

I'd definitly say Quantum Mechanics. It simply defies the very original purpose of science: determinism. Since the dawn of Physics with Galileo and Newton until the early XXth century, physicists believed that, if all the needed variables were exactly known, we could strictly predict the behaviour of any entity. Well, Quantum Mechanics tells us that, even if it's the case that we have full access to all the variables, we would still be unable to determine the behaviour of a particle. We can only determine probabilities. And that is, in my opinion, the ultimate challenge. Is it totally impossible for us to predict a particle's behaviour, or could we still be missing something. If it's the first case, then we should seriously reevaluate most of the portulates and axioms we're using in science, because they point towards a deterministic reality. How to scienfically understand a world in which everything that happens is just a possibility from many?

Answer 3

For a more general answer. In most colleges, there are three basic physic courses: mechanics, electricity and magnetism, and optics/waves/relativity/other topics.

An overwhelming majority of students agree that electricity and magnetism is the hardest of the three general areas. The simple explanation is that most people do not make observations about electricity and magnetism as easily as they do with mechanics, and even in terms of optics and waves.

Obviously, each has areas inside, with fields inside those areas, and subfields inside those fields... all of which get increasingly complicated.

Answer 4

If you like to think about things alot....try General Reletivity

If you like to hash through tons of difficult maths......try Advanced Quantum Mechanics

If you are like me and want to get your hands dirty abit....do Advanced Magnetics and Atomic & Nuclear Physics (similar to Particle Physics)

Answer 5

Optics is very challenging. Determining the size of an image, wether it is real or not and if it is inverted or not can be very challenging.