Chapters
- 01. Why Does Theoretical Physics Matter?
- 02. How Hard Are Theoretical Physics Classes?
- 03. What Education is Required for Theoretical Physics?
- 04. What Certification Do You Need for Theoretical Physics?
- 05. How to Start Your Career as a Theoretical Physicist?
- 06. Take Your First Step Into Theoretical Physics With Superprof
Physics is known to be one of the most challenging yet fundamental subjects. It explores the core mechanics of matter, motion, energy, and everything that drives our universe and keeps it in one piece. It unlocks many career paths in various industries, including medicine, robotics and space exploration.
However, such a rich and revolutionary field isn’t easy to master. While some students struggle with getting their hands dirty in practical physics, most find themselves stuck on the theory. They feel so defeated by the principles and formulas they can’t even get past the basic exercises. Today, we’ll guide these students by shedding light on the difficulties of this subject and the best way to learn theoretical physics.
You can find out about various physics tutors here.
Why Does Theoretical Physics Matter?
To understand what theoretical physics is, it is important to understand that without theoretical physics, there’d be no practical physics. In fact, there’d be no physics, to begin with. In order to apply any scientific concept to the real world, we need to understand how it works through different experiments, observations, and years of advanced research. These investigations are carried out by creating test models for each concept, predicting the outcome of the tests, and then carrying out the experiment to determine and compare the final results.
All these procedures fall under theory, and they lay the groundwork for how we can apply the deduced results in our practical life. Let’s look at an example to understand this process better.
We use electricity as a renewable energy source for domestic and industrial needs. But how did scientists learn to obtain such a replete amount of electrical energy? Well, it all started when scientists discovered the photoelectric effect, which represents how electrons can eject from a metal if exposed to light. This phenomenon enabled scientists to hypothesize if they could convert sunlight to electrical energy through certain materials with photoelectric properties.
From there, they performed hundreds of experiments on different metals to determine which would conduct sunlight and carry electric current most efficiently. Those experiments led to the discovery of solar cells, which we use today to generate power through solar panels and plates.
The scope of theoretical physicists will only continue to expand over the years. In fact, the employment rate for physicists is expected to increase by 8% between 2021 and 2031. Thus, the sooner you master the theory, the sooner you can take your ideas to the practical world. Superprof provides private theoretical physics lessons so you can learn any concept in a matter of days. Bring your ideas to life by studying with Superprof’s physics tutors today.
How Hard Are Theoretical Physics Classes?
There’s no denying the fact that theoretical physics is quite a complex subject for beginners and experts alike. However, careers in theoretical physics pay good salaries and additional benefits. Even if you’ve progressed as a high-achiever for most of your grades, you’ll likely get stuck in physics eventually. This is simply because of the nature of this scientific branch and how it grows.
Have you ever groaned at the absurd number of properties you must learn about nuclear reactions? Do you ever sigh at the dozen different values you have to calculate just to figure out the orbiting speed of a planet? Believe it or not, if you were learning theoretical physics a few years back, you probably wouldn’t be learning these subjects in such detail. Our understanding of the world advances so rapidly that each chapter becomes more and more complicated and crowds the overall learning material.
As a student, keeping up with all the new ideologies while connecting them with the fundamental points could be challenging. You have to interpret multiple advanced concepts in a short time and apply them critically through complex mathematical equations and analytical thinking. Today, theoretical physicists are expected to have a solid grip on their programming skills. Suffice it to say, it’s a seriously demanding field with competition and potential hurdles to keep your academic and professional life unbalanced.
That said, the deeper this branch goes, the wider it gets. This means that the radiating complexity of theoretical physics shouldn’t scare you from how diverse this field is. If you get stuck on one end, you might find yourself progressing on the other. Considering the career potential of this subject, you’re bound to land somewhere.
If you’re still unsure, just get an overview of the branch from a professional physics tutor to get an idea of how flexible your career outlook can be. Superprof can hook you up with over 80,000 tutors in all kinds of physics, so if you’re looking for a specific tutor for your studies, you won’t find them anywhere but here. Make your theoretical physics five times easier by signing up for Superprof today.
What Education is Required for Theoretical Physics?
We’ve discussed how deep and complex theoretical physics can get. So naturally, the education and skills required to carry this field professionally will be pretty tough on their own.
At a fundamental level, you need to complete your undergraduate education in math and physics. This can come in the form of a Cambridge program or a diploma course. If you’re wondering why you need to learn math separately, it’s because half of theoretical physics involves deriving equations, deciphering graphs, and applying formulas to calculate various quantities, so math is unavoidable for theoretical physicists.
These undergraduate studies in math and physics will help you prepare for university education. That’s when you’ll get a taste of this field at a standard level. As an academic subject, theoretical physics can be pretty heavy on technical concepts, so you have to do your best to stay punctual with the lectures and remain consistent with your practice and revision sessions.
That said, theoretical physics will keep your hands full, and traditional education isn’t always enough for students to get through it. That’s why a private tutor can really give you the push you need to nail this subject. Superprof provides over 80,000 physics and math tutors to straighten up your learning curve. Hire one today to start your flexible, affordable theoretical physics classes.
What Certification Do You Need for Theoretical Physics?
Once you’ve started learning theoretical physics at a university level, you can choose how far you want to go. Let’s look at everything you can obtain through a degree in theoretical physics.
| Certification | Outlook |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree in Theoretical Physics | Most students study for three years to get a Bachelor’s degree, as they’re too intimidated to go forward. A study by Compadre shows how 40% of Bachelor students start looking for jobs after graduating. This gives them the option to start their career life early on. Alternatively, they can narrow their future studies and continue with a specific physics branch they enjoy and excel at. |
| PhD in Theoretical Physics | Studying for a PhD may be relatively harder, but it really raises your standards as a physicist. You’ll have the opportunity to work on professionally researched topics and consult with top names in your industry. Depending on your career goals, PhD in theoretical science can take up to 3 to 7 years. Yes, it’s daunting, but it can be a golden ticket for your resume as you’ll be marked as a ‘specialist’ in the field. |
How to Start Your Career as a Theoretical Physicist?
Now that you have your degree, you can finally take your skills out there. It’s best to start by joining different organizations that engage in progressive research and development of medicine, technology, or other scientific fields. The American Physics Society (APS) and the American Association of Physics Teachers (AAPS) are actively looking for fresh scientists and physicists ready to take a deep dive into the industry.
Additionally, if you have the skills of a theoretical physicist, you can work as an internee in laboratories and science institutes. You can easily find some online, although in most cases, your university might already help you find some.
Once you’ve gained fresh experience, you can outline your strengths and weaknesses and look for professional jobs. The higher your educational degree, the likelier you are to get hired. Remember to think outside the box. If you can’t find work at a lab or research facility, you can simply teach theoretical physics in colleges and universities.
Take Your First Step Into Theoretical Physics With Superprof
Theoretical physics is undoubtedly a mind-boggling subject, especially for beginners, but if you study with genuine interest and dedication, you’ll soon find your name credited in professional documents and research papers.
Besides, if the weight of this subject ever gets too much, Superprof can give you the force you need to pull through. Its massive library of over 80,000 physics and math tutors can guarantee success in any field. So don’t wait, start learning theoretical physics with Superprof today.
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