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Physicists study the nature of all matter and energy, including structures, behaviour, formation/generation and the interactions between the two. Physics can broadly be divided into theoretical physics and experimental physics. Theoretical physics involves developing models, or Future Growth Very Strong theories, which attempt to explain and predict how and why certain aspects of the world work and behave. Experimental physics involves testing these theories, determining their limits and using the results to amend or strengthen the theory as appropriate. All physicists will generally work in both of these areas to some degree. Physicists working at universities will also be required to spend time teaching students.



ANZSCO ID & Description: 234914: Studies matter, space, time, energy, forces and fields and the interrelationship between these physical phenomena to further understanding of the laws governing the behaviour of the universe, and seeks to apply these laws to solve practical problems and discover new information about the earth and the universe.  

Alternative names: Physical Scientist

Specialisations:

Famous Physicists
(Source: Curiosity)

Knowledge, skills and attributes

A physicist needs:

  • the ability to make accurate and detailed observations

  • a methodical and analytical approach to work

  • strong communication skills

  • the ability to think clearly and logically

  • good problem solving skills

  • patience 

Did You Know?

Aussie physicist helps build ‘time machine’ to visit Big Bang
 

Vanessa Croll
The Daily Telegraph
May 5, 2020
Reprinted in "
Perth Now"

Dr Sarah Pearce
Dr Sarah Pearce

Pioneering and internationally recognised physicist and 2020 Telstra NSW Business Woman of the Year Dr. Sarah Pearce is helping to build a new generation radio telescope to discover galactic secrets.

The Square Kilometre Array (SKA) – a new generation in radio telescope – will look back in time some 13 billion years to see the beginning of the universe.

With one site in Australia and one in South Africa, CSIRO Astronomy and Space Science deputy director Sarah Pearce hopes the SKA will help answer some of life’s biggest questions.

“SKA in Australia will look back in time toward not long after the Big Bang and hopefully, for the first time we will see when the very first galaxy started to shine, this is called the Cosmic Dawn Period,” Dr Pearce said.

“That helps you understand how galaxies are born, how they evolve and how they eventually die. There isn’t a telescope that has been able to take images of this yet.”


Dr Pearce – a pioneering and internationally recognised physicist and 2020 Telstra NSW Business Woman of the Year – has been working with international cohorts on this project for nine years.

“It’s important we understand where we came from and where we’re going,” she said. “People are fascinated by the stars and the Big Bang and our wider purpose in the universe.

“But this kind of research can have practical implications. The Wi-Fi we use was created with some of the algorithms used first by the CSIRO when they were trying to look at black holes.

“The SKA has enormous data rates and it will produce petabytes of data. How we learn to deal with that will help us learn how to deal with storing data in both science fields and industry.”

SKA
An artist’s impression of the future Square Kilometre Array (SKA) in Australia.

The radio telescope to be built in Australia is called SKA-low and will be made up of 130,000 radio antenna that will look like 2m-high metal Christmas trees spread over 65km of desert in Western Australia. It will start conducting science observations mid-2020s with a partial array.

“The reason we’re in the desert in WA is because what we are looking for are extremely faint whispers,” Dr Pearce said.

“You can’t find them if you’re near a lot of people using phones, microwaves, radios.”

Telstra Business Women’s Awards ambassador Alex Badenoch said while Dr Pearce was the group’s 2020 NSW Business Woman, she was also awarded the Public Sector and Academia Award.

“We commend [Dr] Pearce for her innovative space programs that have significant global impact,” Ms Badenoch said. She is committed to collaboration, and instead of being out to win, she is dedicated to ensuring she and her team produce the best work possible.”
(Source: Perth Now)

 

Duties and Tasks

Physicists are usually identified within three broad roles:

  • theoretical physicists, who develop theories or models of how particular aspects of the world work

  • experimental physicists, who test these theories, determining their limits and suggesting new approaches to them

  • applied physicists, who apply these findings in practical settings, such as within industry and through the introduction of new technology.

There is interaction between all three roles and physicists generally have skills in each of these areas.

Physicists may perform the following tasks:

  • observe and measure phenomena in the physical world, from the smallest subatomic particle through to the universe as a whole

  • propose theories and models to explain phenomena

  • use computers to explore the consequences of theories and models

  • build equipment to make new types of measurements, which in many cases have never been attempted before

  • create new ways of understanding observations that have been made

  • develop new materials, products and processes for use in industry, medicine, defence and other areas of research and development

 

Working Conditions

Physicists usually work in laboratories, offices or workshops, though some may also carry out fieldwork in various environments, depending on the nature of their research. Many physicists work in universities, where they split their time between teaching and research work, however there are also opportunities to work in government organisations or private industry. They may work with radioactive substances and other restricted and/or potentially harmful materials, which require strict safety and control procedures to be followed to minimise danger. Physicists usually work standard business hours, however overtime or weekend work may be required when setting up and carrying out experiments or when conducting fieldwork. 

Tools and technologies

Physicists use a variety of highly specialised instruments and laboratory equipment to conduct, record and analyse experiments. Depending on the nature of the experiment, this equipment may be used to heat or cool materials to extreme temperatures, generate and measure electrical currents, examine the atomic structure of matter, and carry out many other highly technical and specialised tasks. They must also be familiar with computers to control equipment, run simulations and to write reports based on their findings. 


Educational Requirements
To become a physicist you usually need to study a degree in science with major in physics or nanotechnology. To improve your employment prospects, you may need to complete further postgraduate study.

Did You Know?

There have been two Australians who have been awarded a Nobel Prize for Physics:


2011 Brian P. Schmidt

"for the discovery of the accelerating expansion of the Universe through observations of distant supernovae"

1964 Alexander M. Prokhorov
[born in Australia but went back to Russia with his parents when he was 7]

"for fundamental work in the field of quantum electronics, which has led to the construction of oscillators and amplifiers based on the maser-laser principle" shared with Charles H. Townes and Nicolay G. Basov.

(Source: Wikipedia)


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