What's the difference..........

[LJP07]

I have looked through wikipedia etc and other books but it all seems to be a contradiction between what's the difference between Mathematical Physics and Theoretical Physics.

 

Anyone have a viable reason?

[GAHD]

Don't you mean Theoretical (unproven) and Applied (has practical use)?

[freeztar]

what's the difference between Mathematical Physics and Theoretical Physics.

 

Anyone have a viable reason?

 

Easy...

Mathematical physics relies on math

Theoretical physics relies on more math

;)

 

On a serious note, I have never heard of such a distinction being made.

[Buffy]

Easy...

Mathematical physics relies on math

Theoretical physics relies on more math

Clarification: Theoretical physics relies on math that hasn't been invented yet!

On a serious note, I have never heard of such a distinction being made.

Me neither. Where'd this one come from Prolu?

 

Damn lies, statistics, and physics,

Buffy

[freeztar]

Clarification: Theoretical physics relies on math that hasn't been invented yet!

I'll square root your negative and raise you pi!

 

I'm checkin it out, I've got it figured out ;)

Freezey

[Buffy]

I'll square root your negative and raise you pi!

Or maybe:

Mathematical Physics: Can be solved exactly using definite integrals.

Theoretical Physics: Requires vague 3-D graphics and Feynman Diagrams with lots of hand waving.

 

Forgot to mention Memphish, ;)

Buffy

[freeztar]

Or maybe:

Mathematical Physics: Can be solved exactly using definite integrals.

Theoretical Physics: Requires vague 3-D graphics and Feynman Diagrams with lots of hand waving.

 

Forgot to mention Memphish, ;)

Buffy

 

Sounds good to me!!

[LJP07]

Where'd this one come from Prolu?

 

I'm thinking of which course to study at college, but they are calling Mathematical Physics, Theoretical Physics. Another University says that Mathematical Physics is applied maths whereas another Uni says that there seperate and different. Wikipedia gives different to the Uni's and I'm stuck which course to study?

 

Haven't found viable reason yet though?

[Buffy]

I'm thinking of which course to study at college, but they are calling Mathematical Physics, Theoretical Physics. Another University says that Mathematical Physics is applied maths whereas another Uni says that there seperate and different.

Oh, *now* I get it: we're dealing with the *pejorative* definitions of these terms. For a very long time there has been a rift between "theoretical physics" and "applied physics". The latter group uses the term "mathematical physics"--incorrectly as the Wiki article on Mathematical Physics points out the truth that all physics is based on math--to derisively describe what the theoretical folks do as "just math". On the theoretical side, you'll hear the applied physicists referred to as "just engineers".

 

Its a stupid war and shows signs of going away as the younger crowd recognizes that they're not going anywhere careerwise unless they leverage the work of both.

 

Testosterone poisoning at work,

Buffy

[LJP07]

Here's a link to the course I'm doing in September:

 

Mathematics, Experimental Physics, Chemistry, Mathematical Physics in First Year, Exp. Physics and Math. Physics and Chemistry in Second Year. Will chose all Physics from Third Year on and Fourth Year too.

 

NUI Maynooth > Admissions Office > Courses > Faculty of Arts

 

and here's where they describe the subjects taught during Mathematical Physics:

 

http://admissions.nuim.ie/subjects/documents/MathsPhysics.pdf

 

Especially read the last one as it shows the subjects taught, would you consider them to be more Theoretical Physics or Mathematical Physics? I'd rather to Theoretical as it seems more interesting and it's not just 100% maths.

[Jay-qu]

Sounds like a cool course, it has a good mix of both - while some people would hold that quantum physics is very theoretical, a lot of current technology is built around it and its one area of physics that the need and want of better and smaller technology is going to drive research. Theres also some really theoretical stuff like cosmology, that has basically no down to Earth applications - its just really cool :lol:

[Qfwfq]

Don't you mean Theoretical (unproven) and Applied (has practical use)?

That's not what's meant by theoretical physics and not all "proven" physics is applied.

 

Mathematical physics is a branch of mathematics, defined by taking the fundamental principles of rational mechanics as axioms. Some studies include quantum formalism as well, as axioms. It is concerned with exploring the purely mathematical side; given any whatsoever system, with some lagrangian or hamiltonian, work out the solutions and discuss their properties. As a mathematical study, it isn't concerned with whether anything real is represented by the given dynamic system. Call it a practice of the method.

 

Theoretical physics is OTOH part of the process of physics, it uses a helluvalotof math and often even develops new mathematical tools as needed, but it is physics. It ranges into phenomenology which uses theoretics to work out the observable consequences of various models. Observable, at least in principle... experimental physics is the part of the chain that works out feasible ways of actually observing such consequences (those for which some way can be found). Although formally theoretical physics isn't phenomenology, in a strict sense, in practice there aren't so many theorists that aren't really phenomenologists. You might say the two are different as far as topics go but a bit less as far as careers go, or something like that anyway.........

[LJP07]

http://admissions.nuim.ie/subjects/documents/MathsPhysics.pdf

Especially read the last one as it shows the subjects taught, would you consider them to be more Theoretical Physics or Mathematical Physics? I'd rather to Theoretical as it seems more interesting and it's not just 100% maths.

 

:shrug:

[Jay-qu]

didnt I answer that..