Science in Action: Physicist

1.1 Welcome
1.2 Objective

By the end of this lesson you should be able to explain what a physicist does, where they work,
and what questions they try to answer through science.
1.3 Prior Knowledge

Before we learn about physicists and what they do, let’s take a step back and look at what
science is. Science is a way to learn about the natural world. Science uses evidence to form new
knowledge. This evidence is collected as qualitative data or quantitative data. You may
remember that qualitative data is data that is described such as color or texture. Quantitative
data is measured data such as the time, temperature, or speed for example. Scientists examine
this data and evaluate it to look for patterns and findings. Scientists share their work and
collaborate with others while they form conclusions.
1.4 What is Physics?

What is physics? Physics is the study of how things work - in matter, energy, and more. This
can include the structure of subatomic particles in atoms, the effect of gravity, or the
movement of light throughout the universe. Physics is a broad field of science, but it is vitally
important.
Physics, like other fields of scientific research, is not done in isolation. Basically this means that
scientists work in multiple fields of science to allow them to answer questions about the
universe.
There are many different branches of physics: quantum mechanics, nuclear physics,
experimental physics, theoretical physics, and applied physics, are just a few. Quantum
mechanics studies the motion of particles mathematically, and nuclear physics studies the
behavior of particles at the atomic level.
In experimental physics, scientists test their complex hypotheses through controlled
experiments. Theoretical physics studies problems that can be described with mathematical
calculations, but may not be able to actually be tested due to the limitations of our technology
or the complexity of the problems. Applied physics is the study of how our understanding of
matter and energy can be used in new ways to create new technologies or solve real-world
problems.
When we talk about physics, we also need to include engineering. This field takes ideas from
science and applies them in the design and development of new tools, machines, and even
processes.
This engineer is studying the strength and stability of a football helmet for example. An
engineer would study the effect of an impact and then devise a helmet to reduce the possibility
of injury to the player.
1.5 Practice 1

Let’s test our knowledge about the different areas of physics. Which of these are involved in the
field of physics?

Correct Choice

Yes The study of subatomic particles

Yes The mathematical study of the behavior of particles

Yes The study of energy

Yes The study of how things work

1.6 History of Physics: Part 1

Physics is based on the behavior of objects and forces that we see and experience in everyday
life, and we have a long history of scientists trying to explain and understand the motion and
behaviors of objects. However, it took a long time to understand the workings of our universe
at the atomic level.
Back in 250 BCE, Archimedes was the first to discover buoyancy principles for boats and ships
that we now call the Archimedes principle.
Much later, in the late 1500s, Galileo experimented with gravity and came up with the law of
falling bodies. In a fabled experiment, he dropped two different sized rocks from the same
height from the top of the Leaning Tower of Pisa. His findings were contrary to what people
believed would happen; even today many people still predict this outcome incorrectly. People
assume the heavier object will fall faster, but no matter the difference in size or mass, provided
that the wind resistance is similar, all objects fall at the same rate.
Isaac Newton was always intrigued by gravity and wondered how it worked. In the mid 1660s,
he was trying to explain how the Moon stayed in orbit around Earth and was able to link that to
the idea that objects fell towards the ground. He worked through the problem mathematically
and developed the law of universal gravitation. Later he published his laws of motion in 1687.
This was all based on acceleration and the movement of objects based on their masses and
velocities. These laws were groundbreaking. Physicists today still use them in their calculations
in space, on Earth, and in so many other applications.
1.7 History of Physics: Part 2

Almost two and a half centuries later, Albert Einstein published the theory of special relativity
in 1905. One of the most famous outcomes of this work was the formula E = mc 2, which says
that the mass of an object multiplied by the speed of light is equal to the amount of energy of
the object. His concepts and writings are still being explored today. Many of his experiments
that he could only write out mathematically have now been tested in the real world with our
modern tools, and his conclusions have been shown to be correct.
Heike Kamerlingh Onnes discovered the superconductor in 1911. Superconductors are
substances that have very interesting properties when the surrounding temperature is
extremely low. For example, electricity runs much more smoothly and efficiently through
superconductors than in previously-understood materials.
Around the same time when Einstein and Onnes did their work, the scientist Max Planck
developed a new field of physics called quantum mechanics. This helped explain the motion of
particles at the sub-atomic level. As scientists were starting to develop a model of the atom,
they were puzzled by how a nucleus containing protons, which are positively charged, could
stay together. If you have ever experimented with magnets you know you can’t put two positive
sides together: they will repel each other. What was keeping these strong positive particles
together in the atom when normally, positively-charged particles should repel each other? In
the 1930s, James Chadwick discovered another particle in the nucleus called the neutron, and
at about the same time, Eugene Wigner was able to describe how strong nuclear force and
weak nuclear force bind the protons and neutrons together.
Vera Rubin and her team explored the stars in local galaxies throughout the second half of the
twentieth century. They had first assumed that galaxies worked similar to our solar system in
that objects closer to the center orbit faster than those farther away. For example, Mercury
orbits the Sun much faster than Neptune. But Rubin found that stars far from the center were
still moving much faster than they should be. There had to be much more mass in the galaxy
than had previously been assumed. The only explanation for this was the existence of something
called dark matter, which is still a conundrum for astronomers today as they try to explain the
movement and make up of galaxies.
With the advent of computers and other technological advances, the field of physics has grown
exponentially and made many more discoveries in the past fifty years. There are too many to
list here, but realize that as scientists make new discoveries, they are based on and built from
the work of earlier scientists like those we reviewed here. Science marches on!
1.8 Practice 2

Let’s put this in sequence. Order the discoveries in physics from the earliest to the most recent.
Click Submit to check your answer.

Drag Item Drop Target

Archimedes discovers and explains buoyancy. First blank space

Galileo discovers that all bodies fall at the Second blank space
same speed regardless of their mass.

Newton explains the three laws of motion and Third blank space
the law of universal gravitation.

Rubin finds evidence for dark matter by Fifth blank space

studying the motion of stars in a galaxy.

Planck discovers quantum mechanics. Fourth blank space

Archimedes was credited with the principle that now bears his name, the Archimedes Principle,
which explains the rules of buoyancy. Galileo studied the rate at
which all objects fell. Next, Isaac Newton wrote the laws of motion and the law of universal
gravitation. Max Planck developed a new field of physics called quantum mechanics. James
Chadwick discovered the structure of the atomic nucleus, which allowed Eugene Wigner to
explain nuclear forces. Finally, Vera Rubin discovered the existence of dark matter. Of course,
this is a very abbreviated list. Countless scientists have made discoveries in physics, but there
are too many to name here!
1.9 What Do Physicists Do?

Remember that physics strives to explain the natural world. For the last century or so, this has
often been done by studying the properties and behaviors of the smallest particles in the
universe, as we discovered earlier. So how do these physicists do this? What do they do in
their day-to-day jobs? Much of a physicist’s job is mathematical as they think about problems
and situations and try to explain them “on paper.” This is like a thought puzzle, and it is how
many scientists in history have done their work. Albert Einstein was famous for this. While his
mathematical formula made sense to him and other physicists, he had to explain how the
theory of relativity works to people who didn’t understand the math.
Physicists also conduct experiments and work through problems. Some physicists study the
nature of matter at the sub-atomic level. Take a look at this seemingly peaceful image. It looks
like farmland with a circular shape, but in actuality, it is much more unusual than that! These
circles, the largest being about 27 kilometers around, shows the path of a huge particle
accelerator at CERN in Switzerland. The experiments here test the makeup of sub-atomic
particles. Physicists send particles of matter around these circles, traveling faster and faster until
they reach speeds near the speed of light. Then they allow the particles to smash into other
particles and record the fallout.
Astrophysicists like Vera Rubin study space and look at how matter in galaxies and stars behave.
Cosmology is the branch of physics that looks at how the universe formed.
There is another type of physics that looks at how matter behaves when it is super cooled.
These scientists study the behavior of particles and substances near absolute 0 or, -273.15
degrees Celsius. We learned about Kamerlingh Owens, who studied superconductors.
Some physicists study nuclear physics. These scientists look at the power of atomic energy and
nuclear energy. They may try to solve problems related to using nuclear power as an energy
source and look for ways to make it safer.
There is a branch of physics devoted to light called optics. This would include lasers and the use
of light energy within the electromagnetic spectrum.
Plasma physics is the branch of physics that focuses on matter in the plasma state. You may
remember that three common states of matter: solids, liquids, and gases. Plasma is a fourth
state, which is higher energy and causes an atom to lose its electrons. The Sun’s particles are in
the plasma state.
Thermodynamics is the study of heat energy. This field, created after design of the first steam
engine, is based on the large-scale movement of energy, work, power, and heat in a system.
Think about engines in cars and trains and how the engines propel them forward.
There are many more fields of physics, too many to list here, but it is also important to know
that physics is not studied alone. Often physics crosses over into chemistry, biology, or earth
science as many situations overlap. In chemistry, you could study molecular physics or even
crystallology, the study of crystalline structures. In biology, you could study biophysics, which
merges living things and the processes of physics principles such as the formation of
biomolecules, the study and structure of DNA, and more. When physics and earth science
combine you get astronomy, the study of the cosmos, or even meteorology, the study of
weather systems.
1.10 Practice 3

Let’s focus on branches of physics. Match the type of physics to its description.
Drag Item Drop Target

Astrophysics The branch of physics that involves objects in the universe,

including stars, galaxies, and other phenomena

Nuclear Physics The branch of physics that involves the behavior of particles
at the atomic level

Optics The branch of physics that involves the study of light

Plasma Physics The branch of physics that studies matter at the plasma state
Astrophysicists study objects in the universe and their interactions. Nuclear physicists study the
behavior of atomic particles. Optics is the physics of light, while plasma physics studies matter
at the plasma state. Remember that is the phase with more kinetic energy than a gas.
1.11 What Tools Do Physicists Use?

What types of tools do physicists use? First of all, most physicists, and generally all scientists,
need to use a computer. This is a versatile tool used for research and writing, and is used as an
interface between the digital tools and sensors. Modern physics uses extremely sensitive
precision instruments that must be controlled using a computer interface. These tools are
integrated with computers in some way and can measure things like speed, mass, temperature,
diameter, material makeup, magnetic fields, and even electrical conductivity. This image shows
a cool piece of equipment: the most sensitive thermometer in the world! With this tool,
scientists use light to measure temperatures to a precision of 30 billionths of a degree! That is 3
x 10-8 degrees, or 0.00000003 Celsius! Another interesting tool, the gravimeter, can take
extremely precise measurements of gravity. This one measures gravitational acceleration.
Gravimeters are so sensitive, they can detect vibrations and gravity changes from human
activities!
In addition, many projects and experiments collect massive amounts of data and in multiple
lines. Computers help the physicist compile and organize the data into sets that can then be
analyzed for meaning. We see lasers, precision massing instruments, electronics, and more,
measuring data at levels that were impossible just 25 years ago. Computers are also used in
modeling. They help to examine conditions that have so many variables it would be very
difficult to analyze without the high-speed processing power.
Like all branches of science, studies in physics need to adhere to safety standards. Depending on
the type of work, scientists must protect themselves and their equipment. With high-power
lasers, it is important to protect the eyes with face shields or goggles. Other personal protective
equipment include gloves, goggles, lab coats, and even full lab suits. Sometimes the safety
equipment is for the materials, too. Some equipment is so sensitive that it is used in designated
clean rooms, which require scientists to wear lab suits to protect the devices from the natural oil
on their fingers or even the moisture from their breath!
1.12 Practice 4

What tools might a physicist use? Match the tool to its description and how it might be used.

Drag Item Drop Target

Lab suit Safety gear used to protect scientists and the

equipment they are working on.

Computer Used in many ways; modeling, data collection,

analysis, reporting, interface with other
equipment

Gravimeter Measures very small changes in gravity

Laser thermometer Some are so precise, they can measure the

temperature to the nearest 3 x 10^-8 degrees
Celsius
You correctly matched the tools to their uses and descriptions. At first glance, a lab suit might
look like it is protecting the scientists, but they are also very important in keeping the devices
clean and free of contaminants that can disrupt very sensitive equipment! A gravimeter
measures very small changes in gravity, while a thermometer measures temperature. A very
precise thermometer we just learned about can measure to the nearest 3 billionth of a degree!
A computer is central to all the work of a physicist. The power they have from modeling, data
collecting, analysis, and as an interface with the very complex equipment makes it nearly
impossible to work without one!
1.13 Where Do Physicists Work?

A lot of a physicist’s work is done at research institutions. They may work at universities or
research branches like CERN, as we learned earlier. Physicists also work at NASA and other
public research outfits. NASA is striving to move forward with space technologies, including
advanced rocketry and building rovers that can withstand harsh conditions on faraway planets.
Currently there is research being done on building tiny probes that can travel near the speed of
light! Physicists and engineers are always looking for ways to make space travel faster, easier,
and less expensive using better and improved tools to get us there. This image is of a spacecraft
about the size of a briefcase. This one will be designed to journey to other planets. Physicists
also work at research institutions centered around telescopes and technologies related to space
travel and rocketry.
Some physicists work for private industries like your cell phone company, or for medical
research firms. The science of cell phones is incredibly complex and lucrative, so companies
employ many physicists who strive to find the most efficient way to send and receive signals.
Physicists also work to improve satellite design and communications.
Medical technology relies on physicists and engineers to develop better scanning devices such
as MRI machines and easier CT scanning. They also develop radiation therapy techniques to
help prevent the spread of cancer.
Physicists work for the military on improving sonar and drone technology. They improve aircraft
by reducing fuel usage and looking for ways to improve efficiency.
The need for physicists is huge in just about any field you can think of. Many physicists also work
in education and share their knowledge and love of science with others. A lot of research is
done at the university level by professors and their graduate students. This work is then shared
with others around the world, and then can be adopted by businesses and applied in products
and services we use. Every new car model has technology upgrades that were first developed by
physicists and engineers!
1.14 Practice 5

Match workplace to the type of physics done there.

Drag Item Drop Target

Medical research facility Improving a CT scanner

NASA Astronaut exploring radiation in space

CERN Examining particle interactions at high speeds

(atom smasher)

University or college Faculty and graduate student researchers

conducting research on extreme temperatures
You correctly matched the research to the area that these physicists might work at. Medical
physicists might work on improving CT scanners at a research facility; NASA has astronauts
exploring radiation in space. CERN is where you might find scientists working on particle
interactions at high speeds. Nearly every university has researchers conducting physics
experiments in many areas, including extreme temperatures.
1.15 What Kinds of Questions Do Physicists Try to Answer?

Now we know some of the places that physicists work. What kinds of questions do they try to
answer? Physicists try to answer questions relating to how the natural world operates. How do
stars form? How do galaxies form? How does matter combine? What causes electrons to move
in and out of their positions? What is the strong nuclear force and how does it work? What is
dark matter and can we measure its presence? These are some of the more complex questions
they may strive to answer but let’s take it down to something that maybe is easier to relate to.

Physicists will try to improve communications with cell phones, for example. The devices are
small and can carry a large amount of information, but how do they work? If you have seen and
used different versions of cell phones then you know the technology has changed quite a bit in
just your lifetime. This is all thanks to physicists working on improving their systems and finding
more efficient ways to transmit information.

Satellite and space technology is an important area for physicists to study. In just 20 years, we
have learned so much. Our telescopes built by teams of physicists and engineers have been
designed to capture the tiniest amount of light and get a lot of meaning from it. Some of the
newest space telescopes have been able to see back to near the formation of our universe over
14 billion years ago. These physicists are trying to figure out what caused the universe to form,
and even if it is the only one!

Physicists are trying to find out how matter works, how atoms come together, and what the
situation must be like for that to occur. Remember the particle accelerators we learned about
earlier? They test out sub-atomic particles that are part of an atom and try to figure out how
they came together or formed.
Physicists are trying to figure out how to power or fuel our energy needs. We may be running
out of fossil fuels to power our factories, cars, and industries. We need to find cheaper, less
polluting, and more efficient fuels. If we can find a type of fuel or a way to run cars on solar
power or other alternative fuel, that would be a huge improvement and could reduce our
negative impact on the planet. Along the same vein, physicists want to power our rockets and
probes to travel faster and farther as we explore the solar system and beyond. The perfect
solution would be to extract energy from nearly nothing. They are always striving to find out if
this is even possible!

Physicists want to figure out how to measure more accurately in any field: biology, chemistry, or
earth science. That takes an understanding of mechanics, electronics, electromagnetics, light,
sonar, and other technologies that physicists study. Developing better tools is the job of a
physicist and engineer.
1.16 Engineering and Physics

We have been talking about physics and engineering together as we have reviewed some of
these jobs. Understand that physics is the type of science that strives to understand the world
and how it works, and engineering is the process of designing and then building a solution using
our understanding of how things work. Engineering is the field where they build and test
solutions related to our understanding of physical principles.

Mechanical engineering and electrical engineering are two types of engineering that relate very
closely to physics. Mechanical engineering focuses on how things work- building devices,
robotics, and such using our understanding of machines and movement. Electrical engineering
takes our understanding of electricity in physics and applies it to devices and tools that
improve the efficiency and safety of electrical systems. Think of a power plant or a complex
factory with high-level energy needs. These need to be efficient and safe.

Other types of engineering also use major physics concepts, such as civil engineering. This field
focuses on the design of buildings, bridges, and other structures. Understanding forces and
distribution of weight is vital, as well as the study of materials and more. We use civil and
architectural engineers to help us build the tallest buildings and huge spans on bridges. We are
thankful they use scientific principles to make these structures strong, safe, and long-lasting!
1.17 Final Practice

Which of the following questions could be answered through physics? Choose all that apply.
How did the universe form? How does dark matter affect stars and galaxies? Is there a way to
create energy from little or no matter? How can we harness light to measure more accurately?

Correct Choice

Yes How did the universe form?

Yes How does dark matter affect stars and galaxies?

Yes Is there a way to create energy from little or no matter?

Yes How can we harness light to measure more accurately?

Yes, all of these questions are the domain of a physicist. These scientists try to answer
questions about the origin of the universe and the stars within it. They are always trying to
figure out how to get more energy-efficient. Physicists study light and try to take advantage of
all it has to offer, looking for ways to harness light to improve so many applications, including in
measurement devices.
1.18 Lesson Review

In this tutorial we have learned about physics, which is the study of how the natural world
works, and the scientists who study it. We looked at some of the major physics discoveries in
the past thousand years in our quest to understand the world. We learned about the work of
physicists and how diverse it is. Physicists work in industry, in universities, and public research
firms such as CERN and NASA. They work to try to answer questions through their research.
Precision instruments are vital in today’s physics experiments. We looked at some tools,
including a thermometer that can measure to the billionth of a degree. We saw the amazing use
of particle accelerators. We also looked at how safety is important to a physicist, both for the
safety of the scientist but also for the instrumentation. We learned about the importance of
computers in physics work. They are vital in just about all areas as they are able to interface
with sensitive digital equipment. In addition, they allow these scientists to collect large amounts
of data and analyze the findings to make meaning.
Physicists cross over often into engineering. Many types of engineering are related to a specific
form of physics such as electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, and civil engineering.
Physics also overlaps with biology, chemistry, and earth science in many ways and is not just
done in isolation.
Physics is trying to answer the big questions on Earth including how the universe came to be,
how stars form, what dark matter is, and how to convert matter into energy or even if matter is
required. What do you think? Can you see yourself as a physicist?
1.19 Thank You

Credits

Credits
All images licensed from Getty Images, [Link] and/or [Link], unless otherwise
noted.
 “iss025e018049” (Shannon Walker on the International Space Station) , NASA Johnson, Flicker,
CC BY-NC 2.0, [Link]
72157664109957076/
 Dr. James Hing, by U.S. Navy Photo, Public Domain,
[Link]
 Artist’s conception of a black hole, NASA JPL-Caltech, public domain,
[Link]
 Quantum mechancs travelling wavefunctions, By Maschen - Own work, Public Domain,
[Link]
 Higgs Boson event By Lucas Taylor / CERN - [Link] CC BY-SA
3.0, [Link]
 “doing math at Stony Brook,” Bryan Alexander, Flicker, CC BY 2.0,
[Link]
 Army Research Lab research scientist Dr. Tom Plaisted puts the test dummy to work on the
tether system. DoD photos by Katie Lange. Public domain. [Link]
testing/
 Beschreibung: Archimedes, mittelalterliches Idealportrait by
[Link] Public Domain,
[Link]
 Galileo Galilei, By Justus Sustermans (1636) -
[Link] Public
Domain, [Link]
 Isaac Newton, By Godfrey Kneller -
[Link] Public Domain,
[Link]
 Albert Einstein during a lecture in Vienna in 1921, By Ferdinand Schmutzer -
[Link] [dead link], archived copy (image),
Public Domain, [Link]
 Lattice analogy of the deformation of spacetime caused by a planetary mass, By Mysid - Own
work. Self -made in Blender & Inkscape., CC BY-SA 3.0,
[Link]
 Heike Kamerlingh Onnes, By Nobel foundation -
[Link] Public Domain,
[Link]
 Levitation of a magnet on top of a superconductor of cuprate type YBa2Cu3O7 cooled at -
196°C, By Julien Bobroff (user:Jubobroff), Frederic Bouquet (user:Fbouquet), Jeffrey Quilliam,
LPS, Orsay, France - Own work Adapted from [Link] and
[Link] CC BY-SA 3.0, [Link]
curid=14899198
 Max Planck, By AB Lagrelius & Westphal. The American Institute of Physics also credits the
photo [1] to AB Lagrelius & Westphal, which is the Swedish company used by the Nobel
Foundation for most photos of its book series Les Prix Nobel. -
[Link] Public Domain,
[Link]
 Emission spectrum of iron, By User:nilda - Own work, Public
Domain, [Link]
curid=6781561
 James Chadwick, By Los Alamos National Laboratory - Los Alamos National Laboratory, Public
Domain, [Link]
 Eugene Wigner, by Argonne National Laboratory, neg. no. 201-8375, Flickr, CC BY-NC-SA 2.0,
[Link]
 Vera Rubin at the 183-centimeter (72-inch) Ohio Telescope in Flagstaff, courtesy of the
Smithsonian Institution, ID # WEB15458-2016, fair use (noncommercial),
[Link]
 Dark Energy and Gravity (artist concept), ID PIA14094, NASA/JPL-Caltech, public domain,
[Link]
 Areal View of CERN By Maximilien Brice (CERN) - CERN Document Server, CC BY-SA
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 Superconductor levitation By Pongkaew - Own work, CC0,
[Link]
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2.0, [Link]
 Microgravity (Dr. Donald Frazier usies a blue laser…) NASA/Marshall Space Flight Center, NASA
ID 9802493, public domain, [Link]
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[Link]
 Heisler-type geared steam locomotive, by James St. John, Flickr, CC-BY-2.0,
[Link]
 Cardiac Electrophysiology By The U.S. Food and Drug Administration - Biophysics Lab, Public
Domain, [Link]
 Simulating a Submarine Hydrothermal Vent, by NASA/JPL-Caltech, public domain,
[Link]
 Thermometer, by IPAS institute for photonics & advanced sensing, Flickr, CC-BY-2.0,
picture taken by Ben Osborne and courtesy of Professor Andre Luiten,
[Link]
 Burris gravimeter, By User:Sandeep vats - Self-photographed, CC BY-SA
3.0, [Link]
 Mark Nurge, Ph.D., looking at data from Orion; NASA/Amanda Griffin, NASA ID KSC-20180409-
PH_AAG01_0003, pbulic domain, [Link]
PH_AAG01_0003.html
 Webb Telescope Flight Mirrors Delivered to NASA, Photo by NASA Goddard, NASA
ID GSFC_20171208_Archive_e001653, public domain,
[Link]
 Three Generations of Mars Rovers With Engineers, NASA/JPL-Caltech, public domain,
[Link]
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[Link]
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 Hubble Sees a Legion of Galaxies, NASA, ESA and the HST Frontier Fields team (STScI),
Acknowledgement: Judy Schmidt, public domain, [Link]
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 James Webb Space Telescope Mirrors Will Piece Together Cosmic Puzzles, NASA/Chris
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[Link]
 At national renewable energy laboratory , Researcher works in the web, U.S. Department of
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[Link]
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[Link]