Hi everyone. I love physics since i am young.

I am currently a post grad student in physics focusing on theoretical condensed matter physics.

Recently, i went to different Matrikulasi to give talk on theoretical physics.

I show them some basic simulation of Classical Mechanics and the students seems to be very interested in all the simulations.

It is sad that career in physics is never a priority in Malaysia nor it is exposed to the students in any way. Worse still, not much people know about the difference between Theoretical physics and Experimental physics.

Anyway, since this sub forum is still new, I will start the first topic on physics itself.

Certainly, for those who knows physics well, astronomy, material engineering/science, earth sciences, nanotech and others are also physics study as well. There is no clear boundry between all these disciplines and i hope everyone will hop in and discuss anything related to physics.

Doesn't matter you are currently a form 3 student or a Post Doc. Join in!

---

Added on June 14, 2009, 11:41 amFor those who are interested with the simulation
go to

MyPhysicsLab
Or just download the whole simulation. (Requires Java)
Simulation

Well a degree in physics is equivalent to an engineering degree (but less pay! )-so it's no surprise that you can find quite a few of physics degree holders in that area and R&D, other than that some will go for RA-masters-doctorate and take teaching/academic research positions; a physics degree helps too in applying for positions in a career that emphasize technical/maths/logic skills e.g programming/software development and analysts; other than that physics training helps scientific writers, businessmen even stock brokers (there's a theory that the main reason US technology sector is seen lagging behind the competitors was because the Wall Street regime poached their best scientists and engineers to work in the financial sector) 

Anyways, the path will be tedious and very challenging:
QM: theoretical works -Sheldon Cooper -jk, obviously research and teaching
Astrophysics: NASA!

hey just a word of warning: financial engineering might sound damn cool, but it's altogether another field (compared to mainstream physics). Instead of physics where "a formula that works will work everytime", financial eng is something where "you'd be lucky if the formula even work for one day". And financial engineers are more known as quant - the people that earn big bucks modelling financial instruments. It is not a good lifestyle afaik. Go check it out at quant forum.

Also one thing I wonder: are there quants here in Malaysia?

The downside is maybe the common/popular views on physicists and scientists that they're eccentric or nerdy or anti-social which I can safely say (again, IMO) is total bullcrap -physicists are regular people la, so introverts and extroverts are more than welcome to be one :|

Let's just say it like this, physics is large enough for both types to work in,

Extroverts: teaching and research -fit their (for lack of better term) craving for attention; they can interact with people in lectures and seminars; have all the meetings with the moneymen (and get a chance to play the 'eccentric prof.' part); show-off to the public via tv/newspaper/mass-media appearances; write the physics-for-laymen-type books that will further their 'reluctant celebrity'-ness

Introverts: research and lab works -mainly supervising, and designing experiments (and instruments), analyzing data, computational and theoretical works; writing textbooks and exam questions or whatever

Actually one physics lecturer candidly said to me once: "[Nowadays no need to be too concerned with formal postgraduate studies and follow the salary path] baik you bela kambing". Make of it what you will

Heh, can't a guy keep some infos on himself private around you? I read physics (computational -the lecturer I mentioned earlier was my FYP supervisor), and this was a long time ago. And I don't call myself a physicist because that title should (IMO) be reserved for the postgrads.

The familiarity you saw was mostly second-hand (observation) and third-hand knowledge (reading & watching documentaries)

IT, mostly computers and computer systems, and (as I hinted earlier) computational research with academicians -the programming part, not the theoretical stuff.

Both yes and no -just like most (if not all) jobs IMHO; anyways you'll always forget/ignore the boring parts (paperwork, reports, meetings, sucking-up-to-superiors, office politics etc.) and focus on the exciting ones (this people usually have to find out for themselves).

Which makes work kinda like a Schrodinger's Cat -it is both boring and fulfilling, but you'll never know until you do it

how many of you love the show The Big Bang Theory??