Physics - Everett Community College

Physics from Everett Community College is a Campus Associate Physics degree that prepares you for a Science career. Physicists explore and identify basic principles and laws governing motion and gravitation, the macroscopic and microscopic behavior of gasses, and the structure and behavior of matter, the generation and transfer of energy, and the interaction of matter and energy. Some physicists use these principles in theoretical areas, such as the nature of time and the origin of the universe; others apply their physics knowledge to practical areas, such as the development of advanced materials, electronic and optical devices, and medical equipment. Physicists design and perform experiments with lasers, particle accelerators, telescopes, mass spectrometers, and other equipment. On the basis of their observations and analysis, they attempt to discover and explain laws describing the forces of nature, such as gravity, electromagnetism, and nuclear interactions. Physicists also find ways to apply physical laws and theories to problems in nuclear energy, electronics, optics, materials, communications, aerospace technology, navigation equipment, and medical instrumentation. Physicists also design research equipment. This equipment often has additional unanticipated uses. For example, lasers are used in surgery; microwave devices are used in ovens; and measuring instruments can analyze blood or the chemical content of foods. A small number of physicists work in inspection, testing, quality control, and other production-related jobs in industry. Much physics research is done in small or medium-size laboratories. However, experiments in plasma, nuclear, and high-energy physics , as well as in some other areas of physics, require extremely large, expensive equipment, such as particle accelerators. Physicists in these subfields often work in large teams. Although physics research may require extensive experimentation in laboratories, research physicists still spend time in offices planning, recording, analyzing, and reporting on research. Physicists generally specialize in one of many subfields: elementary particle physics, nuclear physics , atomic and molecular physics, physics of condensed matter (solid-state physics), optics, acoustics, space physics, plasma physics , or the physics of fluids. Some specialize in a subdivision of one of these subfields. For example, within condensed matter physics , specialties include superconductivity, crystallography, and semiconductors. However, all physics involves the same fundamental principles, so specialties may overlap, and physicists may switch from one subfield to another. Also, growing numbers of physicists work in interdisciplinary fields, such as biophysics, chemical physics , and geophysics. View more details on Everett Community College . Ask your questions and apply online for this program or find other related Physics courses.