Why Choose Physics
Physics is fascinating
Physics is a fascinating and amazing tool. Physics provides explanations for almost all that is around us in our world, and worlds beyond. It helps us to understand every aspect of our lives, from the tiniest parts of the matter from which we are made, to the great clusters of galaxies in the universe. It is impressive, also, in the range of time-scales that is covers, from the minuscule to the immense. Physics enables us to predict future events, as well as to explain something of the origins of the universe.Physics and careers
| Education | You can be a? |
| With some understanding of physics we should always find the world around us fascinating. Everyday phenomena such as halos around street lamps, rainbows, colours in oil films prompt the questions 'Why?' and 'How?'. To answer these questions we need to know some physics. With physics as a qualification, one of the most satisfying jobs you can do involves communicating your knowledge to others - by teaching. |
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| Industry and Commerce | You can be a? |
| Making things involves using energy, forces, robotics and all major areas of physics. Physics also plays a major role in the development of industry's future needs too. You will not be surprised to read that physics and engineering are very important in factories, but how about mining, ship-building, agriculture, tourism, travel? For instance, knowledge of the physics of the weather, the physics of machines, the physics of the water cycle, of conservation etc. |
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| Environment | You can be a? |
| Physics can teach us to protect our world. Every day our planet is becoming more polluted. Tones of gas enter our atmosphere and harm our health, create acid rain, destroy the ozone layer and increase the greenhouse effect. Every day industrial and agricultural waste flow into our rivers and seas, harming life. Physics can help to control and limit the damage by helping to design transport systems and everyday machinery that reduce emission of polluting gases. Think of the work of geophysicists, noise engineers, conservation officers, civil engineers. Health and safety officer and many others using physics in their work. |
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| Transport | You can be a? |
| We rely so much on cars, buses, trains and planes today that it is hard to imagine what life must have been like without them. We have physics to thank for the invention of all of these and for the improvements that there have been to their safety, speed and comfort. Cars of the future may use hydrogen as fuel to prevent pollution, or on electricity. Aircraft and spacecraft will be lighter and stronger, and even faster. They will require even more complex control systems. If you want to be involved in new transport developments, keep the doors open by choosing physics. |
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| Health and Medicine | You can be a? |
| Caring physicists turn up everywhere in the medical field, diagnosing illness, preventing it or curing it. For example, pregnant women are enabled to see the development of their unborn babies using ultrasonics, X-rays show details of bone fractures, and we monitor blood flow and combat cancer using radiation. Medical scientists and engineers are also involved in the development of artificial heart valves or limbs and laser treatment for eyes. Fibre optics illuminate parts of the body and diseases of the nerves can now be studied using electrical impulses. |
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| Leisure | You can be a? |
| When you find some free time from your studying, and you have finished your part time job, and there is no more work to do about the house, how do you relax? People have applied the concepts of physics to almost all areas of leisure life. Physicists have enabled the production of balls that bounce more reliably, strong, light, inexpensive rackets, fishing rods, gymnastic equipment and more. They have also added to the design of sports footwear, boots and support. They play a role in water sports too. |
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| Energy | You can be a? |
| The whole future of our civilization depends on there being enough energy for the needs of everyone. Existing supplies of coal, oil and gas, and even nuclear fuels, cannot last forever. We must also find new ways of producing electricity that do less harm to our environment. Physics lies at the heart of the answers to these problems. |
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| Communications | You can be a? |
| Information technology is big business around the world. At its heart are communications. Most frequently this is achieved using television or telephones, often using satellite links allowing communications from one side of the world to the other. Physics is behind all types of modern communication, telephone, fax, e-mail and the Internet. Physics has also allowed the development of optical fibres and sensing devices, making physics work for us in practical ways. |
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| Space | You can be a? |
| Astronomy and physics are closely linked. Physics explains how things move in space. Physics is the basis of all methods of studying the universe: cosmic rays, radio telescopes, spectroscopes and spectrometers. It also develops the spacecraft that allow us to explore our solar system. |
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Physics in our lives
The fundamental ideas of physics - matter, force and energy - are the basis of all the other sciences and most of our modern technologies. Through appropriate applications of physics and the technologies that it underpins, we create better conditions of life for all. Although you may not yet realize it, physics affects every aspect of our lives - work, travel, communications, our environment, health care, hobbies, recreation and sports, etc.So keep your opportunities as wide as possible by choosing physics. Open your eyes, open your mind and open doors to your future.
