• Question: Is engineering a type of Physics?

    Asked by Kate to Ashley, Catherine, John G, Laura, Ray on 10 Nov 2014.
    • Photo: John Ging

      John Ging answered on 10 Nov 2014:

      No, but the two are heavily related.
      Physics is the study of the nature of materials and their environment.
      Engineering is the use of physical and mathematical methods to solve everyday problems. Engineering is all about application of knowledge, building and problem solving. Engineers need a very strong understanding of Physics to do their jobs.

    • Photo: Ray Alcorn

      Ray Alcorn answered on 10 Nov 2014:

      Its really the practical implementation and application of Physics.. and chemistry if you are a chemical engineer.

    • Photo: Laura Tobin

      Laura Tobin answered on 10 Nov 2014:

      Hi Kate,
      The lines between the two can be blurred at times. I did my degree in experimental physics and now I’m completing my PhD in electronic engineering. There are a lot of similarities and crossovers, however what you study in college, there’ll be different emphasis. I found it easy to move from physics to engineering and I’m in way brainy. My work in engineering has also crossed over to chemistry which I thought I would never ever use again after I dropped it in 1st year science.

    • Photo: Ashley Culbert

      Ashley Culbert answered on 16 Nov 2014:

      Engineering is not a type of physics but there is a lot of physics in engineering. I didn’t study physics in school so the first year in college was hard going but enjoyable. I liked the physics subjects in college.

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