Physics for Environmental Science: Your Complete Career Guide

Physics provides the foundational principles for understanding environmental systems, from climate modeling and renewable energy to pollution dynamics and seismology. Physicists and astronomers earn a median salary of $166,290 annually, while environmental scientists earn a median of $80,060. Both fields project 4% growth through 2034, with physics offering about 1,800 annual openings and environmental science providing 8,500 opportunities nationwide.

Along with chemistry and biology, physics completes the trinity of the original "hard" sciences. These disciplines use testable predictions and hypotheses, experiments, and mathematics and modeling as opposed to the "soft" sciences, which rely more on qualitative data.

Physics powers everything from renewable energy systems to climate models that predict our planet's future. If you're exploring environmental science careers and wondering whether physics fits your path, you're in the right place. This guide breaks down what physics offers, how it connects to environmental work, and whether it's the right choice for your goals.

On This Page:

• What is Physics?
• Should You Study Physics for Environmental Science?
• Educational Pathways in Physics
• Salary and Career Outlook
• How Physics Applies to Environmental Science
• A History of Physics
• The Sub-Disciplines of Physics
• Future Challenges and Opportunities for Physics
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Key Takeaways

What is Physics?

All of our modern sciences take their names from ancient Greek. In the case of physics, that word is "physik�-," translated as "knowledge of nature." Physics, then, means studying nature at its most base level: matter, behavior, and motion, energy types, time, and space, and their actions and interactions. It's gone from an inextricable link with chemistry and biology, and even natural philosophy prior to the Enlightenment, to becoming a major force in its own right in the scientific age.

It's the science dedicated to understanding how our world and the universe behave and why it does what it does. Every time there's a new discovery in physics, it throws up more questions than answers and opens new fields of study. Today, it overlaps with many other sciences and has had a profound impact on the environmental sciences, just as chemistry has. It also underpins the physical sciences by providing the theoretical framework on which they may base their own assumptions and basic theoretical models.

Physics is responsible for:

• Calculating the distance between Earth and bodies outside our solar system, including other stars within our field of view and other galaxies
• Calculating the age of our sun and how long we can reasonably expect it to keep burning
• Technologies we use every day, from solar panel technology to wind turbines, engineering design, and the creation of new alloys and polymers
• Nuclear physics has given us nuclear power and nuclear medicine, with new avenues of medical treatment for conditions like cancer

Should You Study Physics for Environmental Science?

Here's the thing: not every environmental scientist needs a physics degree. But physics backgrounds open specific doors that other paths don't, particularly in climate modeling, renewable energy development, and atmospheric research. Let's break down when physics makes sense.

Physics Fits If You Want To:

• Model climate systems: Climate science relies heavily on atmospheric physics and fluid dynamics. If you're fascinated by predicting how Earth's climate will respond to changing conditions, physics provides the mathematical toolkit.
• Develop renewable energy technologies: Solar arrays, wind turbines, and tidal power systems are physics problems first. Understanding energy conversion, thermodynamics, and materials science is essential.
• Study atmospheric or ocean dynamics: Weather patterns, ocean currents, and air pollution dispersal all follow physical laws. Meteorology and oceanography departments actively seek physics-trained graduates.
• Work with remote sensing and satellites: Environmental monitoring from space requires understanding electromagnetic radiation, optics, and data transmission. Physics majors excel here.

Consider Chemistry or Biology Instead If You Want To:

• Focus on ecosystem health: Species interactions, habitat restoration, and biodiversity conservation center on biology.
• Work with pollution and contamination: While physics helps model pollutant dispersal, environmental chemistry programs better prepare you for remediation and chemical analysis work.
• Study soil or water quality: These fields emphasize chemistry and biology more than physics.

Ask Yourself:

• Do I enjoy mathematical modeling more than lab work with living organisms?
• Am I more interested in the "how" and "why" of natural systems than in cataloging and conserving them?
• Do I want to work on energy systems or technology development rather than fieldwork?
• Am I comfortable with advanced mathematics, including calculus and differential equations?

If you answered yes to most of these, physics could be your path into environmental science.

Educational Pathways in Physics

Physics degrees come in several levels, each opening different career doors in environmental science.

Bachelor's Degree in Physics (4 years)

A bachelor's degree prepares you for entry-level positions in environmental monitoring, data analysis, and technical support roles. Most programs require:

• Calculus sequence (Calculus I, II, III, and Differential Equations)
• Classical mechanics and electromagnetism
• Quantum mechanics and thermodynamics
• Laboratory methods and instrumentation
• Computational physics or programming

To bridge into environmental applications, consider minoring in environmental science or taking electives in atmospheric physics, geophysics, or energy systems. Many students also pursue internships at national laboratories, environmental agencies, or renewable energy companies during their undergraduate years.

Master's Degree in Physics (2 years)

A master's opens doors to research positions, specialized modeling work, and leadership roles in environmental consulting. Common specializations relevant to environmental science include:

• Atmospheric physics: Weather modeling, air quality prediction, climate research
• Geophysics: Seismology, groundwater modeling, Earth systems
• Energy physics: Solar technology, nuclear power, energy storage systems
• Computational physics: Climate modeling, data science applications in environmental research

Master's programs typically include advanced coursework, a thesis project, and opportunities to work on funded research relevant to environmental challenges.

Doctoral Degree (PhD) in Physics (5-7 years)

A PhD is essential for leading research programs, teaching at universities, or working at national laboratories on cutting-edge environmental challenges. Physics PhDs working on environmental problems often focus on:

• Climate system dynamics and prediction
• Renewable energy efficiency and new technologies
• Atmospheric chemistry and physics
• Remote sensing and satellite technology
• Quantum computing applications for environmental modeling

PhD programs are fully funded through research or teaching assistantships, meaning you earn a stipend while studying. The trade-off is the time commitment and intense focus required.

Online and Hybrid Options

Physics requires substantial laboratory work, making fully online bachelor's programs rare. However, some universities offer hybrid formats where you complete theory courses online and attend intensive lab sessions on campus during summers or select weekends. Master's programs in applied physics or geophysics increasingly offer online options, particularly for working professionals.

Salary and Career Outlook

Let's talk numbers. Physics careers offer strong compensation, and the skills translate well into environmental science roles.

Physicist and Astronomer Salaries

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2024 data), physicists and astronomers are grouped together in official employment statistics and earn significantly above the national average:

• Median annual wage: $166,290 (physicists and astronomers combined)
• Mean annual wage: $166,000
• 10th percentile: Less than $80,020
• 90th percentile: More than $239,200
• Employment: Approximately 26,400 (physicists and astronomers combined)

Salaries vary by industry. Physicists and astronomers working in ambulatory healthcare services (particularly medical physics for radiation therapy) earn a median of $225,930 annually. Those in scientific research and development services earn $167,980, while those in federal government positions earn $143,170. University positions typically pay less, with median salaries around $109,250.

Environmental Scientists and Specialists

Many physics graduates transition into environmental scientist roles, where they apply their modeling and analytical skills to environmental challenges. Environmental scientists and specialists earn (May 2024 data):

• Median annual wage: $80,060
• Mean annual wage: $88,640
• National employment: 84,930

While this is lower than physicist and astronomer salaries, environmental science roles offer advantages like more fieldwork opportunities, diverse project types, and often better work-life balance. A physics background can position you for more technical and higher-paying roles within environmental science, such as climate modeling, atmospheric research, or renewable energy development, though the BLS doesn't track environmental scientists with physics backgrounds as a separate category.

Job Growth Projections

Both physics and environmental science show steady positive job growth through 2034:

• Physicists and Astronomers: 4% growth (2024-2034), about 1,800 annual openings. Growth is described as "as fast as average" and depends heavily on federal research funding.
• Environmental Scientists and Specialists: 4% growth (2024-2034), about 8,500 annual openings. Environmental science offers significantly more opportunities due to a larger workforce size and broader application areas.

Most openings in both fields come from replacement needs as current professionals retire or change careers. Environmental science growth is driven by both expansion in climate-related research and consulting, plus higher replacement needs due to the larger workforce.

Salary Comparison: Physics-Related Environmental Careers

How Physics Applies to Environmental Science

No other science can get away from physics (or chemistry) because all matter is made up of molecules. As physics is the study of how matter acts and reacts to various forces and aspects of the world and the universe, physics has massive implications for the environmental sciences.

Climate Change

Although few physicists deliberately aim to become climatologists, many today are working on some of the fundamental problems caused by our changing climate and examining potential solutions. The physics of our environment, atmosphere, ocean cycle system, and temperature rise all dictate things like the fluid movements of water systems, such as oceanic oscillations, and how environments will react to atmospheric chemistry changes. Physics shows how climates will change and the long-term effects on both land and aquatic ecologies.

Renewable Energy

The contribution of physics to environmental sciences is no better demonstrated than in the development of renewable energy. For example, solar panels and solar arrays convert light (for panels) and heat (for arrays) into electricity through chemical processes that we've identified through physics. Also, physics has been fundamental in developing turbines. The science behind wind farms generates electricity using principles that physicists have refined over decades. Finally, physics can be used to calculate the amount of energy produced by processing and burning biofuel just as it has for fossil fuels.

Pollution and Human Health

Similar to climate change, physics is key to understanding occurrences and the spread of aerial pollution. This has massive implications for public health and the extent and seriousness of certain conditions, anything from asthma to lung cancer. Physics and physicists measure aerial pollutants, suggest and develop methods of mitigating them, and examine what constitutes an unsafe level. They're also involved alongside chemists in tackling the problem.

Satellite Technology

Without satellites, we wouldn't know as much about our planet as we do. Physics underpins the rockets used to send satellites into space. Even flight depends on physics and the necessary relationship between speed and lift. Secondly, the physics of imagery and photography allows us to take images by capturing light waves and creating images for environmental scientists to examine, plus the transmission of data from aerial satellites to planet-based computer systems. This goes for thermal imaging and other types that have allowed us to map our world and meteorological events.

Seismology

Understanding physics is also central to predicting and measuring seismological activity and, of course, preparing for environmental disasters like earthquakes or volcanoes. When the ground moves, it creates ripples on the land. Earthquakes that occur at sea create ripples in the water that cause tsunamis. One of the worst seismological disasters of the modern age happened at Christmas 2004 when an earthquake under the ocean caused a massive tsunami, killing around 250,000 people. Physics can predict, based on the size of seismological activity, the impact on land and ocean of such activity.

A History of Physics

In Antiquity: Old and New World

Physics begins with the earliest of civilizations and was limited to astronomy, although not as we'd understand it today. The ancient Egyptians, Mesopotamians, Greeks, and even New World civilizations such as the Maya and Aztecs had a complex understanding of the stars. Each of these examined the heavens to track and predict the motion of the sun, moon, and star field, although largely for the purpose of tracking the seasons and understanding the universe at its simplest level. They didn't have the tools or understanding of the heavens to fully comprehend, but in some cases, their mathematics was sound and quite remarkable.

Every major civilization had some form of sun worship or veneration, and some were surprisingly similar despite a lack of contact. For example, ancient Greek myth tells us that Helios, the sun god, drove a chariot across the sky each night, while the Navajo have a remarkably similar belief that their own god Jóhonaa'éí dragged the sun on his back every day. All this myth and folklore is, of course, deeply unscientific. But what it did do is lay a foundation for physics by noting in great detail how extraterrestrial bodies traversed the sky above us. There was no explanation for the paths of circles they made in the sky, nor was there any attempt to explain them. But this information was harnessed to track the seasons and plan the ancient agricultural year. Stonehenge in England is considered a giant calendar, while the earliest known structures for tracking the movements of the stars throughout the year are in Mesopotamia.

Ancient Greek Natural Philosophy

Before physics would become the hard science with all its subdisciplines and subtleties, underpinned by math and underpinning virtually every other science, it would become a way of thinking about the world through natural means. This natural philosophy was of great use to the protoscience. No longer were phenomena considered part of the work of magic or supernatural means. Put simply, natural philosophy determined that every event, no matter the size or significance, must have a natural explanation.

This was an important and fundamental shift away from a mystical or supernatural view of the world, although it wasn't based on experimentation or observation, as the later science of physics would become. These early thinkers included Thales, who created natural philosophy and theorized that seismological events such as earthquakes had a natural cause (correct) but assumed (wrongly) that landmasses were giant rafts that reacted to ocean ripples, which caused the quakes.

Thales also theorized that water was the substance on which all matter was built. He was wrong about thi,s too, but Anaximander had another idea. He devised something called "Apeiron" matter, which has no origin, is limitless, and is responsible for creating the universe and everything in it, though not by design. That remained the belief of the supernaturalists and mystics. This was a philosophical rather than a scientific observation, and historians of science today argue repeatedly over what Anaximander's actual meaning may have been. He didn't theorize the atom (that would come much later), but some have drawn parallels with the discovery of hydrogen.

With Heraclitus, we have the birth of the concept of time as a fluid thing. It wasn't much of a leap for him to determine that nothing ever stayed the same and was subject to constant and infinite change.

But the greatest development in this age, stemming from natural philosophy, was atomism. Although it would take nearly 2,000 years for researchers to discover the atom, the first theory about these tiny particles began in the 5th century BCE during the Greek period. Leucippus and Democritus both built on theories from a much earlier time and the writings of ancient Indus Valley, and Chinese thought on the matter, but it was during this age that the first true theory was formulated, although without observation. The word "atom" comes from "atomos," meaning "indivisible." As in, they can't be broken down. We now know the idea that atoms cannot be broken down is false.

The Medieval World

For around 1,000 years after the fall of the Western Roman Empire, academic and intellectual pursuits fell out of favor, partly due to necessity and partly due to strict controls placed by the medieval church on things outside the bounds of doctrine. Medieval Europe was a time of little investigation and little interest in all the areas that would today come under the science of physics. However, the church and many other institutions preserved such works out of curiosity, if not academic pursuit, which is why we know so much about what most Greek and Roman thinkers believed about the world.

But the same wasn't true in the Islamic Middle East. They not only preserved and embraced both Western and Eastern thinkers but also built on their knowledge. It's considered the Islamic Golden Age, and many discoveries in the realms of the natural sciences came during this time.

But to say that Christian Europe was intellectually destitute until the Renaissance would be wrong. Galilei Galileo was one of the world's first astronomers, but his ideas weren't completely his own. He had inspiration for the critique of Aristotle's and the ancient world's approach to physics in the form of John Philoponus, a 6th-century Byzantine scholar who questioned many earlier claims. Philoponus is rare in that he based his understanding of the physical world on observation. He influenced later Islamic thinkers before and during the fall of the Eastern Roman Empire (or Byzantium).

This Islamic Golden Age was responsible for the beginnings of the Age of Reason. This was the age of optics. Ibn al-Haytham wrote The Book of Optics, which saw not only the final nail in the coffin for ancient views about optics but also saw the invention of the Camera Obscura. Other optical physicists of this age include Al-Farisi, Al-Kindi (the father of Arab philosophy), Ibn Sahl, and the man considered the greatest ever Islamic scholar: Avicenna, the father of modern medicine, but also an astronomer.

The European Renaissance, which many have said was possible due to the flight of Eastern thinkers out of the crumbled civilization of Byzantium and into western Europe, took many of the ancient and more recent works from the Islamic world, which had traded their knowledge with the last bastion of the Roman Empire. It would soon be the time for Classical Physics to arise, but the Enlightenment and modern science were still quite some time away.

Classical Physics

The period of physics and its development from the Renaissance through the Enlightenment and to around the year 1900 is known as "Classical Physics." It's separate from Modern Physics today because it was, in some ways, flawed. However, the move to classical physics is noteworthy for the marked shift away from philosophy and intuition-based theory to observation and experimentation.

The emergence of optical tools such as the microscope and telescope allowed the discovery of the atom, challenged the notion that Earth was not just the center of the solar system but the center of the universe, and led to the identification of gravity. This is the age of Copernicus, who defined the heliocentric model of the Solar System; Johannes Kepler, who set down laws determining how planetary bodies moved; Galileo, whose astounding work in developing telescopes reinforced the Copernican view of the solar system, and Isaac Newton, who set down universal laws on motion and gravity. Alongside all this were important changes to mathematics. Isaac Newton was also responsible for the invention of calculus, which enabled physics to begin solving some of its most complicated problems.

Changes from the early 19th century that led to the Industrial Revolution were based, in part, on advances in engineering fueled by advances in physics. Without physics becoming a solid science in the 18th and 19th centuries, we may not have had the combustion engine and the use of fossil fuels, new developments in metallurgy and building construction, and many other things that pushed toward industrialization. It was also the age of electricity and the light bulb, a great age of invention.

But despite all these inventions and applied physics, classical physics couldn't explain everything. In fact, it fell down in some complex areas, and by the time the 20th century came along, many of its flaws and limitations were already under scrutiny. The ultimate problem was its belief in constants and predictability. Understandable in the Age of Enlightenment because science is based on predictability. But physics and the laws that surround it aren't unchanging. It would take the recognition of these flaws to develop several subfields in the 20th century.

Modern Physics

As noted above, classical physics, despite its uses, is flawed in several fundamental ways. The 20th century was the beginning of modern physics, which would incorporate many discoveries and theories and give birth to some of our most celebrated scientists. Marie Curie (for her work with radioisotopes), her daughter Irene (who discovered artificial radioactivity), Max Planck (who began developing quantum theory), Vera Rubin (who discovered Dark Matter), Albert Einstein (who revolutionized physics with his Theories of Relativity, which solved and corrected a few problems that had bugged various physicists for generations), and Professor Stephen Hawking for a wide range of discoveries, solved paradoxes, and complex theories, particularly those relating to the nature of Black Holes.

This is also the age of space exploration, calculating the size of our solar system and the distance to the nearest stars and other galaxies. Through mathematical measurements and physics, we've been able to calculate that the size of the visible universe contains around 200 billion galaxies. It's even been used to attempt to calculate the potential number of civilizations in the universe. Known as The Drake Equation, it uses mathematical modeling based on what we know about the physical aspects of solar systems, the number of planets, and the relative size of "The Goldilocks Zone," coming to a conclusion of potentially millions.

Quantum Theory gave way to Quantum Mechanics, one of the most complex sciences for the layperson to understand. Its earliest pioneers included Paul Dirac, Werner Heisenberg, and Erwin Schrödinger, and it remains a complex science today. The early 20th century saw a number of complex experiments in many subfields of physics, none more so than the discovery of the Higgs Boson at CERN's Large Hadron Collider, the world's largest particle accelerator.

But physics has never been about the complex and lofty. It's also about everyday life. It's at the core of engineering and many other sciences. It's fundamental to Earth sciences such as meteorology and is vital in our understanding of this generation's most pressing problem: climate change.

Learn How to Become a Physicist >

The Sub-Disciplines of Physics

As with the other hard sciences, physics can be broken down into two broad groups: applied physics and theoretical physics. The latter is concerned with devising theories about how the universe or any atoms or molecules within it might function. Applied physics is the practical use of materials, typically in engineering projects. With each new discovery, new science, and new technology, there will always be issues for physics to understand and deconstruct.

We've organized these subdisciplines by their relevance to environmental science careers. If you're exploring environmental applications, focus on the first group.

Most Relevant for Environmental Science

Geophysics

Part environmental science, part engineering, and part physics, geophysics has massive implications and uses elsewhere. It's used in archaeology, anthropology, geology, and paleontology to discover buried remains. It's used to create maps of features over small and large areas. But at its core, geophysics is the characterization of topography and subsurface features as a physical geography, their physical attributes and effects, based on 3D models. The technology may not have many uses for applied physics, but it has broad and potentially limitless uses elsewhere. It measures Earth's shape, magnetic and gravitational fields, geological composition, topographical features and structures, and all associated dynamics. It can examine the water cycle and locate buried anomalies.

Meteorology

Although largely an Earth Science, meteorology is built on a strong foundation of physical principles. Weather systems, weather fronts, and the phenomena that result are all caused by the physical movement of the planet, which in turn affects tide, wind direction, speed, pressure, and all other elements that lead to certain weather phenomena. It's also important for plotting and predicting the effects of climate change. Chemical imbalances, water levels, oscillations, and movement of air and water may all have a profound effect on meteorological events, including everyday weather, but also extreme precipitation (droughts and flooding), heatwaves, cold spells, and so on. Students interested in this path should explore meteorology degree programs that combine atmospheric physics with environmental applications.

Fluid Mechanics

Fluid mechanics is an applied area of physics that concerns the motions and properties of substances in a fluid state: plasmas, liquids, and gases. It's broken down into two areas: fluid dynamics and fluid statics. Fluid dynamics is not limited to physics but is included in any science that has a professional interest in the motion of fluids listed here. Typical applications include examining star formation (astronomy), ocean oscillations and forcings (meteorology and environmental science), how wind turbines function and can harness wind power (environmental engineering), and seismological activity. It even has medical applications in studying the functions of blood within the circulatory system. Fluid statics is the examination of fluidic substances when they're not in motion.

Thermodynamics

Best known for their laws, thermodynamics concerns the relationship between applications of heat and energy. Specifically, it looks at how energy is created from temperature and its attributes and applications. Energy is created or altered when heat is applied to something. For example, boiling a pan or kettle increases the movement speed of the water until it reaches what we call "the boiling point." Once this happens, the liquid water becomes a vapor as the applied temperature increase breaks the bonds between the molecules. It also concerns heat and energy transfer, entropy (the waste heat leading to a loss of energy from a closed system), the Carnot Cycle, and the law of cooling.

Moderately Relevant for Environmental Applications

Acoustics

The science of sound and the study of sound waves is known as "acoustics." This is both a theoretical and an applied science. It's important in concert halls and theaters, for example, to design the architecture so that it makes the best use of sound, makes it carry far, and channels noise without too much feedback or echo. It's been used to great effect in modern churches, too, for the same reason. Although invisible, sound occurs as waves spanning out from a central point. They're the reverberating of aerial particles reacting to sound. It's not just about music or architectural use either. The science of acoustics also includes other aspects of sound engineering: the creation of sound and the control of sound (reduction). Other uses include SONAR, used by civilian and military shipping to detect anomalies at and under the sea, medical use with ultrasound scanning, and even seismology.

Optics

Also known as "light physics," optics is the study of the properties, origins, actions, and interactions of light and its associated particles. Light has no mass as it's made up of photons, which have no mass. Yet they have energy and momentum. The speed of light is presently known to be the fastest possible speed, although science fiction writers and physicists alike have argued for decades over whether it would be possible to travel faster than this. It's also the study of sight because it's light penetrating our eyes and interpreting the light patterns that allow animals that can see to do so.

Computational Physics

Related to mathematical physics, computational physics is the use of powerful mathematical and other models to test physics and other theories from a physical angle. This is one of the oldest subdisciplines of physics that uses information technology. Many have argued whether it's theoretical or applied, as it takes theories and tests them. However, it's also practical in collecting data from physical sources. The SETI program uses computational physics to look for signs of extraterrestrial life, filtering out natural background noise. The event known as "The Wow Signal" used computational gathering and filtering to great effect. Sadly, it has never been replicated, and although our best chance of discovering extraterrestrial life will require powerful computing, we haven't achieved it yet.

Biophysics

Physical sciences use math to understand and explain nature, whereas biological sciences aim to understand how a biological system will function. These are overlapping areas, and biophysics is the branch designed to bridge the gap between biology and physics. It's a theoretical framework and an applied science that uses physics to understand biological systems. A typical example is understanding physical mechanics of how a molecule is created, the various parts of a cell or organism work at a physical level, including the neurological system (including electrical impulses transmitted between the brain and organs), immune system, and other structures. It uses principles from math and chemistry as well as biology and physics. Students interested in biological applications should also consider wildlife biology careers or environmental microbiology programs, which incorporate physics principles in ecological contexts.

Specialized Physics Fields

Astronomy

Astronomy is one of the oldest forms of modern physics and existed long before physics was even a science. For most of recorded history and even before that, humans have been interested in the stars, their relative positions, and using them to track the seasons. The stars and planets inspired imagination and are at the center of some of our most enduring myths. But astronomy today is very different. It's the study of objects in the sky (moons, planets, comets, asteroids, stars, galaxies, black holes), their movement and motion, position relative to our own planet, star, or galaxy, chemistry and makeup, and mathematical principles. It was once tied to astrology, but today astrology is mysticism, and despite looking at positions of astrological bodies, there's no science to it.

Astrophysics

Often used interchangeably with astronomy, there are several key differences between astronomy and astrophysics, although experts in the two groups very often work together on the same projects. The main difference between astronomy and astrophysics is that the former concerns measurements, distances, movement, and relationships. The latter uses physical principles and mathematical measurements to understand those relationships: attraction and repellence, gravity, combustion within stars, and other physical principles. However, astrophysicists need to understand astronomy to work out why extraterrestrial bodies have such relationships, and astronomers use data from astrophysics to predict or plot paths.

Atomic Physics

Atoms form all matter, organic and inorganic, and are the building blocks of material across the known universe. Therefore, the work of atomic physics is to study atoms. They'll look at such elements as the number of electrons, how they change in response to stimuli, and the structure of the electron cloud. Although many people who work in this field are considered to be concerned with nuclear power generation and nuclear weapons, that's too narrow and simple a view of atomic physics. Nuclear physics is one area of atomic physics and, in many ways, quite separate from it. In more recent decades, it has forged stronger links with quantum mechanics as the research there has developed and shown further applications.

Chaos Theory

This is an area of physics and mathematics that examines the behavior of systems, their sensitivity to even minor changes, and how they react to those changes. It's a cross-disciplinary theoretical approach that may apply to almost any other science. Its core philosophy is that in spite of apparent randomness, there are systems in place and patterns that keep the equilibrium. Any change, no matter how small, can affect the whole in profound ways. This is called The Butterfly Effect, the idea that a butterfly flapping its wings in one geographical location can cause weather systems to begin on the other side of the planet. The theory can allow us to predict weather patterns, but it is also the main reason why meteorologists can get it so wrong. Minor fluctuations can change the direction of a weather front.

Chemical Physics

There are more links between physics and chemistry than atoms. Chemical physics fuses both sciences and incorporates such mutual areas as atomics, molecular physics, and solid-state chemistry. This is an umbrella term for anything with a mutual interest in chemistry and physics, but does not include physical chemistry, which is a related but slightly different subdiscipline and more a branch of chemistry than physics. Chemical physics studies the chemical reactions of substances through applied atomic physics. It's interested in electrons, nuclei, atoms, and molecules. Physical chemistry examines the physical nature of chemistry and chemical molecules and compounds.

Cosmology

Arguably, this is the discipline that physics was before it became a science. Cosmology is related to astronomy and astrophysics, but instead of looking at mathematical probabilities, physical structure, motions, relationships, gravity, et al, it looks at all of this data for evidence of the formation of the universe, tracing its evolutionary history back to the Big Bang and those precious few seconds after the universe's formation. It also seeks to work out when the universe will end and what will happen next. Simply, it's the study of the universe on the largest possible scale. This is the area of physics and astronomy concerned with string and superstring theory, dark matter and energy, and the theories concerning the possibility of the multiverse.

Cryophysics/Cryogenics

Temperature is an important influence on physical material. Liquid matter turns solid when cold enough and into a gas when hot enough. The simple physical effect is the slowing down and compacting of physical material. Cryophysics and cryogenics go beyond merely the study of temperature. It's an examination of the effects of extremely low temperatures, typically working in the Kelvin scale rather than Celsius or Fahrenheit. In popular science, cryogenics is the belief that the human body can be artificially reduced to these temperatures to preserve organic material and prevent natural decomposition. But cryophysics and cryogenics are about far more than the preservation of organic matter. It's about studying properties and effects on both organic and inorganic matter.

Crystallography

Crystalline solids have an interesting molecular bonding that differs from all other matter. While the analysis of the structure of the physical material isn't unique in crystallography, how such materials as diamond function and fit together can help us understand other matter. The science grew as a result of the discovery of the laser and its many industrial, research, and medical applications. It has many applications today in biomedical research, chemistry, and physics, but also in areas we never perceived, such as genetics and the treatment of diseases such as cancer, all because we can manufacture tools with precision and use the unique structure of crystals.

Econophysics

If two sciences were never supposed to go together, those branches would be physics and economics. Yet both use mathematics at their core. Econophysics is the use of physical principles, particularly those that are mathematical in nature including statistics, statistical probability, stochastic processes (probability and randomness), and even chaos theory (see above) as applied to unpredictable problems. In fact, the use of physics and a modeling system goes back to the birth of classical liberalism and the method of economics that rose around the Industrial Revolution. It allows for a non-static system in economics, one subject to irrational thoughts and actions on the part of the elements (i.e., people) and their ability to affect demand and price.

Electronics

"Electronics" in the 21st century tends to refer to devices such as televisions and smartphones. The science of electronics isn't the actual devices but the science that makes them possible. This is a subdiscipline of physics that examines all elements of the development of devices that use electricity, but it also looks at the properties of electrons when operating in a vacuum, through gases, or the effect and impact of conducting material. It's concerned with elements of an electronic device, including data transmission and storage, heat, transistors, LEDs, and other diodes, circuits, circuit boards, and technologies designed to connect to them. The main challenge of electronics at present is to continue to increase in functionality while reducing power consumption.

Electromagnetism

This subarea of physics examines electromagnetic force. This is an interaction that takes place between electrically charged particles, creating electromagnetic, electrical, and magnetic fields and light. These are one of the four broad "forces" in the physical world. Electromagnetism can manifest itself in many ways, with lightning being one of the most common, but it's not the only example. Electromagnetism is vital for both organic and inorganic objects and their functions. Electricity and magnetism were long considered two separate but complementary forces, but we know now that they're related and part of the same thing, hence why this subdiscipline is required to study the causes and effects of electromagnetism in everyday use.

Laser Physics

Laser physics, also known as laser science, is the study of the activities, applications, attributes, and nature of lasers. A laser (light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation) is an intense beam of electromagnetic light of a single wavelength or a single color. It utilizes quantum electronics and optical cavity design, as well as designing technology and media to use lasers (for example, Blu-ray discs that use a blue laser to read the data stored on them). There are also industrial uses, such as laser precision cutting, and medical uses, such as soft tissue destruction. More recently, laser eye surgery has been used to correct defective vision.

Mathematical Physics

This is one of the theoretical areas of physics that looks toward applied mathematics to solve some of the biggest conundrums and problems that exist in physics, but also applied research that uses math as a major tool. Some of the issues that have utilized mathematical physics include calculating the size of our galaxy by pinpointing the stars within it and working out distances. Questions concerning the search for extraterrestrial life have come up with "The Drake Equation" (a mathematical model), which looks at the possibility of intelligent life existing on other planets. It has fueled interest in the field and driven the SETI program. There are also uses in statistical probability.

Mechanics

Also known as "classical mechanics," this is an explanation of how objects move, both artificial and natural. Therefore, it concerns the motion and gravitational effects of stars on planets, but also studying the motion of aircraft, machinery, individual parts, and anything else that moves. When an object is understood, it's possible to predict its future and past movements. It's as much math as it is physics and is largely credited to Sir Isaac Newton, who identified the possibility of the movement of objects based on force. But it remains relevant today in aerospace engineering, amongst other things. The reason it was given a new name was due to its limitations elsewhere and new branches of science that developed in the wake of Einstein's later equations.

Medical Physics

Medical science is a multidisciplinary approach, one of the most important sciences in the world today, and one of the areas that has benefited most from medical applications. Medical physics is any application of physics to the medical world. This can include nuclear medicine in the treatment of cancers and other growths, ultrasound to perform scans of body interiors to measure tumors or check on the progress of a fetus, radiology such as X-rays, and utilizing both theory and practical physics. It can also be used to design and implement new medical technologies for treatment and scanning.

Molecular Physics

The study of the physical properties of molecules (which are made up of atoms), the chemical bonds between atoms that create molecules, and molecular dynamics is known as "molecular physics." It has a close relationship with several areas of chemistry, but also other areas of physics, as molecules underpin many things about the physical world. It examines the interactions between molecules and how bonds are forged and broken. It's fundamental to understanding the most basic processes of the universe and the abundance of elements.

Nanotechnology/Nanophysics

This is the science and engineering development of extremely small objects that could only be seen under a microscope. Although an engineering "problem" or technological advance to solve, the potential of microscopic machines will need to utilize physics and physical properties of devices to deliver new medical technologies, work in dangerous environments, such as handling chemicals, environmental remediation, and a variety of other areas. The science concerns the ability to control individual atoms as well as create and control small machines. It's believed that manipulating individual atoms may provide the keys to unlocking the universe and be the next big step in the evolution of physics as a science.

Nuclear Physics

Nuclear physics conjures up ideas of nuclear bombs and nuclear power, but it's much simpler than that. Atomic physics deals with the physics of atoms, including each atom's electrons, but those who work in nuclear physics study only the nuclei of atoms, their makeup, and how they act and react. It's the pursuit to split the atom and harness its energy that has led to nuclear technologies: the bomb and power, but also nuclear medicine and magnetic resonance imagery (MRIs), all of which harness nuclear technology in varying ways. It has also allowed radiocarbon dating, agricultural isotopes, and developments in engineering and chemistry. It's expected to deliver future developments in transportation and energy production as the world moves away from oil.

Particle Physics

Closely related to nuclear physics (see above) from which it evolved, particle physics differs in that it's the study of the effects, matter, and radiation of all particles, not just atomic nuclei. This includes the smallest of all particles, far smaller than the atom, such as quarks, leptons, photons, and so on. Modern particle physics examines the "Standard Model" of fundamental particles and fields, as well as the newer particles such as the Higgs boson discovered in the early part of this decade at CERN.

Photonics

Although some scholars include photonics within the subdiscipline of optics (the physics of light - see above), others argue that photonics is a slightly different discipline. Depending on who you ask, it can mean the application of light, while optics is the theory. Others perceive the difference as one of classical physics (optics) and quantum physics (for Photonics), which would make photonics a subdiscipline with optics as a sub-subdiscipline. There is, however, no agreed terminology, and the two may be used interchangeably.

Plasma Physics

In physics, there are four states of matter: gas, liquid, solid, and plasma. Unlike the other three, the variable for creating it isn't the temperature. It's the addition of energy to disrupt the electrons and charge them negatively (called ionization). It also gives plasma new properties. It'll demonstrate strong reactions to electrical and magnetic interference. Plasma is naturally occurring and, according to research, may represent as much as 99% of all material in the universe. Plasma physics is the study of plasma, its properties, and actions under certain pressure.

Quantum Physics

An umbrella term for everything relating to quantum rather than classical physics. That is, anything concerning the smallest particles, much smaller than atoms. It's a broad branch that covers multiple fields, including Quantum Electrodynamics, Quantum Gravity, Quantum Field Theory, and Quantum Optics.

Solid State Physics

While fluid dynamics is concerned with fluid matter (liquid, gas, plasma), solid state is about materials in a solid form. It applies both classical and quantum physics, crystallography, as crystals are one of the most interesting solid substances (see above), and many other subareas. It examines how properties of solid materials on the larger scale are caused by atomic-scale properties and is a multidisciplinary science that fuses physics with materials science, working on such mutual interests as resistance and conduction.

Future Challenges and Opportunities for Physics

There will always be the need for physics as it's so important to all other sciences: chemistry, biology, technology, engineering, and so on. While some sciences argue over whether they've reached the limits of the questions they can ask, physics only presents more questions with every answer. These are the future challenges for physics.

What is the True Size of the Universe?

Our galaxy is some 100,000 light-years across. We're just one of around 2 trillion known galaxies in the observable universe, only a small fraction of which we can presently observe. The "observable" part is what's important here. Beyond that, we don't know how many more galaxies exist. We've been able to see these galaxies through optics and by measuring light waves. What happens beyond that range? If we can "only" see 2 trillion by putting our galaxy at the center of that narrow band, we have to ask how much more of the universe we cannot see because the light waves from these galaxies have yet to reach us and may not do so for thousands or even millions of years.

Understanding the Sun

The star at the heart of our solar system remains, in many ways, quite enigmatic. We can say with confidence that it's approximately halfway through its life. We also know its eventual fate based on the actions of similar observed stars in the universe. But there's still so much about it that we don't understand. For example, the properties and speeds of solar winds for which conventional thermal models are inadequate, the true limit of the heliosphere, and its effects on "space weather."

SETI

This is the "Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence." With so many galaxies, it stands to reason that life will have evolved elsewhere. But this could ultimately prove a futile search, as we could be alone for now, or we could be the only civilization for now in a universe teeming with simple life. Civilizations may have come and gone in the billions of years of this universe, and some may evolve long after we're gone. We've observed a tiny fraction of the observable universe with no compelling evidence that civilized life exists anywhere close. Although "The Wow Signal" is the only signal we've ever received, it may just have a naturalistic explanation if it's ever found a second time. Justifying this expense is a matter for all sciences to come together and demonstrate its worth for the good of all humanity, rather than the perception that it's a frivolous waste of money.

Climate Change Mitigation

This will require forging stronger links with climatology and other environmental sciences, but climate change mitigation is a challenge that affects us all. It's through atmospheric physics that we come to predict and model the effects of climate change, and it's physicists who work in this area who may yet provide part of the solution. But there's still much we don't understand about atmospheric concentrations and the relationship with weather patterns. The answers should come through a combination of physics, chemistry, and applications of chaos theory.

Energy Needs vs Cleaner, Greener Technologies

A growing population requires more energy, but the needs of climate change mitigation mean we must do everything we can to reduce our energy consumption. There may seem to be a conflict, and there is to a certain degree, but advances are already being made through applied physics. Batteries, power cells, and other energy storage methods are able to store more power than ever before, while our electronic devices get more powerful every day, while reducing power consumption. In the future, we expect new advances in physics and chemistry to reduce energy consumption further still. From LEDs that emit powerful lights at much lower consumption to more efficient solar paneling and electric vehicles, physics has helped meteorology and climatology to develop wind turbines, solar physics to develop solar arrays and paneling, and harnessed water physics to develop tidal power, hydroelectricity, and other water-based technologies that harness energy from the movement of fluid. It has also developed nuclear power. What new technologies lie ahead for the remainder of the 21st century will only build on our growing energy needs for a growing population.

The Internet

The big stories at the moment, as far as the web is concerned, are cloud storage, big data, and the "internet of things." The internet is an invention of physics. The transmission of data through the radio and other waves, from one device to another, over the airwaves, utilizes some of the oldest and most commonly understood of all physics-based technologies. The challenge, though, is to continue to drive forward technologies for increasingly faster web access, easier connectivity of new devices, to ensure that connectivity isn't limited by the number of people trying to access it, and to provide the technology that will continue to deliver enough storage to hold that data in the cloud. All the while, it's down to physics to ensure that we're doing all we can to deliver this while driving down energy consumption.

Learn How to Become a Physicist

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a physics degree to work in environmental science?

No, most environmental science positions don't require a physics degree. However, physics backgrounds are particularly valuable for climate modeling, renewable energy development, atmospheric research, and remote sensing roles. Environmental science degrees typically include enough physics coursework for most positions, while physics degrees with environmental applications open specialized technical roles.

What physics courses are required for environmental science programs?

Most environmental science bachelor's programs require one or two semesters of general physics covering mechanics, thermodynamics, and electromagnetism. Students pursuing atmospheric science, geophysics, or climate modeling typically need additional coursework in fluid dynamics, statistical mechanics, and mathematical physics. Graduate programs in environmental physics may require a full undergraduate physics sequence.

Can physicists transition into environmental careers?

Yes, physicists transition successfully into environmental careers, particularly in climate modeling, renewable energy research, atmospheric science, and geophysics. The mathematical and analytical skills from physics training transfer well. Many physicists enter environmental science through graduate programs in atmospheric physics, environmental engineering, or climate science, or by joining research teams at national laboratories or environmental agencies.

What's the salary difference between a physicist and an environmental scientist?

Physicists and astronomers earn significantly more, with a median salary of $166,290 annually, compared to environmental scientists and specialists' $80,060 median. However, environmental science offers more job openings (8,500 annual openings vs. 1,800 for physicists and astronomers) and greater geographic flexibility. A physics background can position you for higher-paying technical roles within environmental science, though the BLS doesn't separately track salary data for environmental scientists with physics degrees.

Which physics specializations are most relevant for environmental work?

Atmospheric physics, geophysics, fluid dynamics, and thermodynamics are most directly relevant to environmental science. Computational physics is increasingly important for climate modeling and data analysis. Students should also consider optics (for remote sensing), acoustics (for noise pollution), and nuclear physics (for nuclear power and environmental remediation). Interdisciplinary programs combining physics with environmental applications provide the strongest preparation.

Is a physics PhD necessary for environmental science careers?

A PhD isn't necessary for most environmental science careers, but it is essential for leading research programs, teaching at universities, or working at national laboratories on complex climate modeling or renewable energy development. Many successful environmental careers involve bachelor's or master's degrees in physics or related fields. The decision depends on your specific career goals and whether you want to conduct independent research or apply existing physics knowledge to environmental problems.

How does physics compare to chemistry or biology for environmental careers?

Physics excels for modeling-based work (climate prediction, energy systems, atmospheric dynamics), chemistry is strongest for pollution analysis and remediation, and biology is essential for ecosystem and conservation work. Physics offers higher salaries but fewer total job openings. Many successful environmental scientists combine knowledge from all three disciplines, with their primary degree chosen based on whether they prefer mathematical modeling (physics), laboratory analysis (chemistry), or fieldwork with living systems (biology).

2024 US Bureau of Labor Statistics salary and job growth figures for Physicists and Astronomers, Environmental Scientists, and Specialists reflect national data, not school-specific information. Conditions in your area may vary. Data accessed January 2026. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook - Physicists and Astronomers.

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Matthew Mason

MG Mason has a BA in Archaeology and MA in Landscape Archaeology, both from the University of Exeter. A personal interest in environmental science grew alongside his formal studies and eventually formed part of his post-graduate degree where he studied both natural and human changes to the environment of southwest England; his particular interests are in aerial photography. He has experience in GIS (digital mapping) but currently works as a freelance writer as the economic downturn means he has struggled to get relevant work. He presently lives in southwest England.

Latest posts by Matthew Mason (see all)

• What Is Parasitology? The Science of Parasites Explained - November 19, 2018
• Desert Ecosystems: Types, Ecology, and Global Importance - November 19, 2018
• Conservation: History and Future - September 14, 2018

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