physics vs engineering

[BrokenBiker]

having a bit of a debate with a mate...

I have a predominantly engineering based background and he is from the phsyics world

basically we are doing the childish thing of 'my job is better than yours' so i thought i would open it up here too..

which of us think which subject would trump the other if it came down to one or the other as a life long career?

i understand that engineering is heavily based on physics anyway, but obviously there is a massive amount of physics not used in engineering and then there are factors such as theoretical physics, experimental physics, applied physics etc.

 

[bigegg]

Physics is theory
Engineering is practical.

In theory, they're both the same.
In practice....

My thoughts : physics now will be engineering in a hundred years.

I'm a mathematician, so physics for me, tho

 

[sparkysy]

I think being a sparky is the best job in the world and if we're being childish

 

[BrokenBiker]

im interested in both aspects and quite interested in the more indepth aspects of physics, and i agree that in a few years what we see as physics now will be seen as engineering

 

[cumbriasteve]

One of our members recently got a job in a small brewery, with the bonus of some freebies and...the use of a big workshop thrown in.

Now decide who has the best job

 

[BrokenBiker]

One of our members recently got a job in a small brewery, with the bonus of some freebies and...the use of a big workshop thrown in.

Now decide who has the best job

ah yes, that surely is the best job...more chemistry than physics though...lol

 

[penfold]

Engineering is the practical application of physics and chemistry.

 

[slim_boy_fat]

I'm retired, nothing trumps that......

 

[500e]

 

[BrokenBiker]

i showed that video to a few new temps a while back as they were part of a trial team where everyone was supposed to have basic engineering skills (they didnt) and not one of them found it funny

 

[armalites]

I guess it depends on what you want out of your life. As an engineer you are more likely to be of use to people and maybe see the fruits of your labour. I would also say that in an everyday world it would be easier to make a good living as an engineer unless you are teacher or lecturer. The problem with these things they are always evolving, I know a chap who's son had an engineer degree yet would have a clue how to use a lathe. I had assumed that would be a given.

If I was in an episode of "The Walking Dead" I would want an engineer not someone who could explain the principles

 

[Pete.]

The physicist will tell you everything you need to know to solve your problem if it's something he can solve.

The engineer will just do it.

 

[penfold]

Any grad level engineering degree that doesn't include workshop skills appreciation isn't worth the fees; if you don't know how things are made how do you design them?

 

[GKQ]

Physics is the basics of engineering, one with out the other does not work. Engineers are practical and convert what a
Physicists thinks will work into a product that does. Both are equally important. In my world a person who can do the math ( as the Americans say ) and built it, are the best of both worlds. But normally if you can do one you aren't to good at the other.
I have a friend who works for an F1 team he is good at both, he is the race engineer for Mercedes turns the data into improvements. it's incredible to see how the data helps develope new parts.
The other friend works for AMG DTR ( German touring cars) as an engineer. but was oddly rubbish at school and was told you're not going any where, yet is mechanically outstanding and paid very well for it.
In the end one is no better than the other they both 'need' each other to get the best results.
But in the real world engineers rule !! Well if I was suck I'd call an engineer 'cause he would get me out of trouble where as a theorist would tell me if it could be done !
Graham

 

[Maker]

Most physics research now is finding answers to the questions no one is asking.

 

[anjum]

An engineer, a physicist and a mathematician are sitting in a train going through Wales. They pass a hill where there ia a black sheep. "Oh look" says the engineer "all the sheep in Wales are black".
The physicist says " you can't assume that, you can only say that some of the sheep in Wales are black"
The mathematician yawns and says "There is one hill in wales on which there is one sheep of which at least one side is black"

Back to the original subject there is a lot of generalising going on e.g. if he's got a degree he can't possibly know how to use a lathe, If he's a mathematician he must be a pure theoretical geek, physicist only work on theories, engineers can't be well educated etc etc.

I once went to the NASA museum in Washington and saw the shuttle and it struck me how many people of all different skills and backgrounds must have worked together as a team to get a few people into fame.

 

[atomant48]

I don't think it's a question of which "subject" trumps the other, More of what are the likely jobs each "subject" will lead to and then what jobs provide the best through life career. As above, there are a pretty wide range of jobs out there from both fields. I agree with the comments about practical experience during degrees; when I did mine we had to do 800 hours throughout the degree of "practical" work. I did everything from installing / commissioning large printing presses (plenty of science there!), fabricating/welding (being taught by the professionals during their lunch break) and doing on site refrigeration repairs. I was obviously a dogs body throughout, but learned a hell of a lot.

 

[rockweasel]

When the sh it hits the fan and the world is brought to a halt by a massive EMP circa May 2029 it'll be the hunter/gatherer who comes out on top.

 

[anjum]

|Nah! it'll still be the politicians.

 

[tflnemesis]

I identify as a physicist, managed 2 years of a physics degree before finances caused me to give up. I also like to believe that i am a fair engineer too.

I enjoy all the theory that came from studying physics and i like the real world applications of it with engineering. I do find that being a physicist i can apply the theory to most things i want to do even if i have no prior experience of what i am attempting. The engineering side helps me translate that into real world applications.

So for me physics is the all the theory behind an application and why it SHOULD work, engineering is getting it to work in the real world.