Engineering physics

Engineering physics, or engineering science, refers to the study of the combined disciplines of physics, mathematics, chemistry, biology, and engineering, particularly computer, nuclear, electrical, electronic, aerospace, materials or mechanical engineering. By focusing on the scientific method as a rigorous basis, it seeks ways to apply, design, and develop new solutions in engineering.^[1][2][3]

Overview

Unlike traditional engineering disciplines, engineering science/physics is not necessarily confined to a particular branch of science, engineering or physics. Instead, engineering science/physics is meant to provide a more thorough grounding in applied physics for a selected specialty such as optics, quantum physics, materials science, applied mechanics, electronics, nanotechnology, microfabrication, microelectronics, computing, photonics, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, nuclear engineering, biophysics, control theory, aerodynamics, energy, solid-state physics, etc. It is the discipline devoted to creating and optimizing engineering solutions through enhanced understanding and integrated application of mathematical, scientific, statistical, and engineering principles. The discipline is also meant for cross-functionality and bridges the gap between theoretical science and practical engineering with emphasis in research and development, design, and analysis.

It is notable that in many languages the term for "engineering physics" would be directly translated into English as "technical physics". In some countries, both what would be translated as "engineering physics" and what would be translated as "technical physics" are disciplines leading to academic degrees, with the former specializing in nuclear power research, and the latter closer to engineering physics.^[4] In some institutions, an engineering (or applied) physics major is a discipline or specialization within the scope of engineering science, or applied science.^[5][6][7][8]

In many universities, engineering science programs may be offered at the levels of B.Tech., B.Sc., M.Sc. and Ph.D. Usually, a core of basic and advanced courses in mathematics, physics, chemistry, and biology forms the foundation of the curriculum, while typical elective areas may include fluid dynamics, quantum physics, economics, plasma physics, relativity, solid mechanics, operations research, quantitative finance, information technology and engineering, dynamical systems, bioengineering, environmental engineering, computational engineering, engineering mathematics and statistics, solid-state devices, materials science, electromagnetism, nanoscience, nanotechnology, energy, and optics.

Whereas typical engineering programs (undergraduate) generally focus on the application of established methods to the design and analysis of engineering solutions in defined fields (e.g. the traditional domains of civil or mechanical engineering), the engineering science programs (undergraduate) focus on the creation and use of more advanced experimental or computational techniques where standard approaches are inadequate (i.e., development of engineering solutions to contemporary problems in the physical and life sciences by applying fundamental principles).

Careers

Qualified engineering physicists, with a degree in Engineering Physics, can work professionally as engineers and/or physicists in the high technology industries and beyond, becoming domain experts in multiple engineering and scientific fields.^[9][10][11]

Branches

Accelerator physics^[12] Acoustics^[13]^[14] Aerospace Systems and Aerodynamics^[15]^[16] Agrophysics Analog electronics Anti-gravity^[17]^[18] Applied mathematics Applied mechanics Artificial Intelligence^[19]^[20] Astrodynamics Atomic Force microscopy and imaging Audio Engineering^[14] Ballistics Biomechanics Biosensors and bioelectronics Biophysics^[21] Bionanotechnology Chemical engineering^[22] Chemical physics Communication physics Computational physics Computer Engineering^[23]^[24] Computer Vision Composite materials Control theory Cryogenics^[25] Cybernetical Physics Data mining Digital electronics Digital signal processing^[14] Directed Energy Weapons^[26] Econophysics Electrical engineering Electric propulsion Electrochemistry Electromagnetism Electromagnetic propulsion Electronic Warfare^[27] Embedded Systems^[28] Energy Engineering^[14] Fiber optics Financial Engineering^[14] Fluid dynamics Geoengineering Geophysics ICT and Internet Engineering^[29] Information theory Instrumentation and control Interreality physics and virtual reality Laser physics Materials science Mechanical engineering Mechatronics^[30] Medical physics

Metallurgy Metamaterials^[14] Metrological physics^[14] Microelectronics^[24] Microfluidics, MEMS, and MOEMS Microfabrication Microprocessor design^[12] Microwave Engineering Nanotechnology Neural engineering Neuromorphic engineering Neurophysics Nondestructive testing Nuclear electromagnetic pulse (NEMP) engineering Nuclear engineering^[31] Nuclear technology^[14] Optical engineering Photonics and Plasmonics Physics engine and Physics processing unit design Physical neural networks Plasma physics Polymer science Power electronics^[32] Psychoacoustics Psychophysics Quantitative finance^[33]^[14] Quantum electronics Quantum information Quantum technology^[34] Radar and Lidar Radio-Frequency Engineering Robotics^[30] and Machine learning^[35] Renewable Energy Semiconductor physics and devices Sensor Fusion Software Development^[23] Soil physics Solid-state physics Sonar Social physics Space physics Space technology^[36] Spacecraft Propulsion Spintronics, spin engineering Statistical mechanics Stealth technology Systems engineering^[37] Systems biology Superconductors Thin films and nanostructured materials Vehicle dynamics Wind engineering

See also

• Applied physics
• Engineering
• Engineering science and mechanics
• Environmental engineering science
• Index of engineering science and mechanics articles

Notes and references

1. "Major: Engineering Physics". The Princeton Review. 201. p. 01. Retrieved June 4, 2017.
2. "Introduction" (online). Princeton University. Retrieved June 26, 2011.
3. Khare, P.; A. Swarup (2009-01-26). Engineering Physics: Fundamentals & Modern Applications (13th ed.). Jones & Bartlett Learning. pp. xiii–Preface. ISBN 978-0-7637-7374-8.
4. . Chinese Academy of Sciences (中国科学院). 2001-10-07. Archived from the original on 2008-06-07. Retrieved 2008-09-16.
5. "Engineering Physics | Physics Department". physics.stanford.edu. Retrieved 2023-06-27.
6. Division of Engineering and Applied Science, California Institute of Technology
7. . Archived from the original on 2014-04-26. Retrieved 2011-05-16.
8. Engineering Science and Mechanics program at Virginia Tech
9. Stephen F. Austin State University, Engineering Physics Careers
10. . Archived from the original on 2020-11-24. Retrieved 2018-01-21.
11. Learn.org, Engineering Physics Careers overview
12. . Archived from the original on 2017-07-24. Retrieved 2017-02-26.
13. Engineering Physics (Acoustics), University of Kettering
14. . Archived from the original on 2021-07-17. Retrieved 2017-06-30.
15. . Archived from the original on 2021-09-22. Retrieved 2017-06-20.
16. (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2021-04-13. Retrieved 2017-02-26.
17. Ning, Wu (2004). "Gravitational Shielding Effect in Gauge Theory of Gravity". Communications in Theoretical Physics. 41 (4): 567–572. arXiv:hep-th/0307225. Bibcode:2004CoTPh..41..567W. doi:10.1088/0253-6102/41/4/567. S2CID 119407101.
18. Honda’s Gravity Modification Research, Huffington Post
19. "Physicists Teach AI to Identify Exotic States of Matter". Wired. 2017-02-13. from the original on 2023-06-27.
20. "Physicists Unleash AI to Devise Unthinkable Experiments". Scientific American. from the original on 2023-06-27.
21. Engineering Physics (Biophysics), Cornell University
22. . Archived from the original on 2021-06-20. Retrieved 2017-06-30.
23. Engineering Physics, Berkeley
24. Engineering Physics (Microelectronics), University of Connecticut
25. . Archived from the original on 2021-07-07. Retrieved 2017-04-25.
26. Golden Eye-style energy beam is developed by Nato scientists, Daily Telegraph
27. Johns Hopkins, Applied Physics Laboratory
28. Engineering Physics (Embedded Systems), Simon Fraser University
29. "Course structure – Engineering Sciences". Retrieved 2020-11-26.
30. University of the Pacific, Engineering Physics, Curriculum
31. Engineering Physics (Nuclear Engineering), Ohio State University
32. Program of Engineering physics, Laval University, Quebec
33. Physicists applying knowledge to finance, The Guardian
34. China’s quantum satellite achieves ‘spooky action’ at record distance, Science Magazine
35. Physicists extend quantum machine learning to infinite dimensions, Phys.org
36. Engineering Physics, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Programme Options
37. . Archived from the original on 2019-03-11. Retrieved 2018-09-16.

38. https://ughb.stanford.edu/degree-programs/major-programs/engineering-physics-program

External links

• "Engineering Physics at Xavier"
• "The Engineering Physicist Profession"
• "Engineering Physicist Professional Profile"
• Society of Engineering Science Inc. 2017-08-07 at the Wayback Machine
• "Weapon Physics and Design Program"