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In contrast, mathematicians might work on a single problem that takes years to complete with a small number of collaborators. In physics, papers might involve dozens of co-authors and institutions, with researchers publishing work several times per year. In addition to differences in methodology and language, math and physics also have different research cultures. “But we keep talking, and the trick is not to do what they say to do but what they mean, a translation of the problem.” “A physicist comes to us, asks, ‘How do you prove that this is true?’ and we immediately show them it’s false,” says mathematician Ron Donagi. “Understanding things for the sake of understanding them is worthwhile, and connecting them to things that other people know is also worthwhile,” he says. Kamien works on physics problems in that have a strong connection to geometry and topology and encourages his students to understand problems as mathematicians do.

#PHYSICS SCIENCE ARTICLE HOW TO#

“We are dealing with how to formulate physics questions so it can be seen as a mathematics problem” says physicist Mirjam Cvetič. This fundamental difference leads researchers in both fields to use the analogy of language, highlighting a need to “translate” ideas in order to make progress and understand one another. You have to understand everything completely, then you do a computation.” “But in mathematics, the computations are just a decoration on top of the cake. Physicists “want answers, and the way they get answers is by doing computations,” says mathematician Tony Pantev. While physicists rely heavily on math for calculations in their work, they don’t work towards a fundamental understanding of abstract mathematical ideas in the way that mathematicians do. Instead of experiments or observations, mathematicians use proofs to support their ideas. Mathematicians look for patterns and develop new ideas and theories using pure logic and mathematical reasoning. In contrast, math is focused on abstract topics such as quantity (number theory), structure (algebra), and space (geometry). Questions are addressed using combinations of theories, experiments, models, and observations to either support or refute new ideas about the nature of the universe.

As the systematic study of how matter behaves, physics encompasses the study of both the great and the small, from galaxies and planets to atoms and particles.

Instead, mathematicians use proofs, a logical argument that shows that something is true.īut despite their close connections, physics and math research relies on distinct methods.

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One can manually calculate additional values in the series, but it’s impossible to prove that this pattern exists beyond this series without infinite calculations. A simple example of a mathematical pattern: Mathematicians look for patterns and ask if that pattern is just a special case or indicative of something deeper. For mathematicians, physics can be a source of inspiration, with theoretical concepts such as general relativity and quantum theory providing an impetus for mathematicians to develop new tools. For example, Newton invented calculus to help describe motion. For physicists, math is a tool used to answer questions. Math and physics are two closely connected fields.

Advances in geometry, string theory, and particle physics, for example, have been made possible by teams of researchers who speak different “languages,” embrace new research cultures, and understand the power of tackling problems through an interdisciplinary approach. At Penn, long-running collaborations between the physics and astronomy and the math departments showcase the importance of interdisciplinary research that crosses traditional boundaries. With many complex scientific questions still in need of answers, working across multiple fields is now seen an essential part of research. Math, chemistry, physics, and biology were grouped together for many years under the umbrella “natural philosophy,” and it was only as knowledge grew and specialization became necessary that these disciplines became more specialized. But uniting different academic disciplines is far from a new concept. In the scientific community, “interdisciplinary” can feel like an overused, modern-day buzzword.

Physics science article