Editing Physicist (section)

{{Short description|Scientist specializing in the field of physics}}
{{For|the album|Physicist (album){{!}}''Physicist'' (album)}}
{{Distinguish|Physician}}
[[File:Albert Einstein 1947.jpg|thumb|right|[[Albert Einstein]], a key [[Theoretical physics|theoretical physicist]] in the 20th century who developed the [[theory of relativity]] and parts of [[Old quantum theory|early quantum theory]] ]]
{{TopicTOC-Physics}}

A '''physicist''' is a [[scientist]] who specializes in the field of [[physics]], which encompasses the interactions of matter and energy at all length and time scales in the physical universe.<ref name="Rosen">{{cite book|last=Rosen|first=Joe|date=2009|title=Encyclopedia of Physics|publisher=Infobase Publishing|page=247}}</ref><ref>{{Cite Merriam-Webster|physicist}} "a scientist who studies or is a specialist in physics"</ref> Physicists generally are interested in the root or ultimate causes of [[Phenomenon|phenomena]], and usually frame their understanding in mathematical terms. They work across a wide range of [[Physics#Research fields|research fields]], spanning all length scales: from [[atom|sub-atomic]] and [[particle physics]], through [[biological physics]], to [[physical cosmology|cosmological]] length scales encompassing the [[universe]] as a whole. The field generally includes two types of physicists: [[Experimental physics|experimental physicists]] who specialize in the observation of natural phenomena and the development and analysis of experiments, and [[Theoretical physics|theoretical physicists]] who specialize in mathematical modeling of physical systems to rationalize, explain and predict natural phenomena.<ref name="Rosen" />

Physicists can apply their knowledge towards solving practical problems or to developing new technologies (also known as [[applied physics]] or [[engineering physics]]).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.aip.org/sites/default/files/statistics/phd-plus-10/physprivsect-chap9.pdf|title=Industrial Physicists: Primarily specializing in Physics|date=October 2016|publisher=American Institute for Physics}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.aip.org/sites/default/files/statistics/phd-plus-10/physprivsect-chap7.pdf|title=Industrial Physicists: Primarily specializing in Engineering|date=October 2016|publisher=American Institute for Physics}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.aip.org/sites/default/files/statistics/phd-plus-10/physprivsect-chap11.pdf|title=Industrial Physicists: Primarily specializing outside of STEM sectors|date=October 2016|publisher=American Institute for Physics}}</ref>