experimental physics
Hands-on particle research
Experimental physics is the branch of physics concerned with designing and conducting experiments to test theories, measure physical phenomena, and discover new effects.
It contrasts with theoretical physics, which develops mathematical models and predictions.
Experimental physicists build apparatus, collect data, and analyze results: The discovery of the Higgs boson required decades of experimental physics at particle accelerators.
- lab coatProtective work garment
- spectroscopyStudy of light-matter interaction
- calibrationAdjusting for measurement accuracy
- spectrometerMeasures electromagnetic radiation properties
- error barsStatistical uncertainty display
control group · nuclear decay · particle accelerator · oscilloscope · hypothesis testing · cryogenics · liquid helium · superfluidity · gravitational fields · signal processing · CERN · reproducibility · atomic clock · quantum entanglement · standard model · big bang · high energy · particle beam
experimental physicstheoretical physics
Nature explained through equations
pure theory · pure mathematics · applied mathematics · phenomenology · desk work
experimental physicstheoretical physics
Nature explained through equations
natural philosophy · metaphysics · pure mathematics · thought experiments