Role of Physics in Engineering

If you are interested in building your career in Engineering, then studying physics is obvious. We cannot imagine our life without Physics. The future technology directly or indirectly is related to physicists who have made a huge contribution to the world. 

Engineering is a profession in which scientific knowledge and mathematics is used for innovations, to develop new things that benefit mankind, which is important to society and nature, making everything around us easier.

Engineering is the mindset to think over the use of scientific principles, to design and build machines, structures, and other items. Engineering enables us to think out of the box.

Basic sciences have their own importance in the broad spectra of the engineering education system.  Knowledge of science helps the engineer understand the constraints inherent in a problem and helps the engineer develop possible approaches for a solution. Now let’s throw some light on the role of physics in engineering.

Physics is one of the most fundamental scientific disciplines, and its main goal is to understand how the universe behaves. Physics generates fundamental knowledge needed for the future technological advances.

Study of physics develops the ability of Problem Solving, Logical Thinking and also the Ability to think intellectually.

Physical concepts, such as Classical mechanics, Thermodynamics and Statistical mechanics, Electromagnetism, Quantum mechanics, Atomic physics, Molecular physics, Optics, Condensed Matter Physics, Nuclear Physics etc., play a vital role in the process of innovation, which is, crucial in the development of engineering branches.

Engineering is basically physics applied to create something more practical. It can be mechanical, electrical, civil, etc., but they’re all basically governed by physics. There’s no way you would solve complex engineering problems without understanding the physics behind it.

In Civil Engineering, the laws of physics can tell you about forces, tension, harmonic vibrations and oscillations, tensile strength, elasticity, and all kinds of other concepts that you can use to make calculations about your designing and construction work .

For every subject of Mechanical Engineering, you need the help of physics in dealing with aircraft, watercraft, engines, robotics, weapons, cars, pneumatics, hydraulics and others by using core areas including mechanics, dynamics, thermodynamics, materials science, structural analysis, and electricity.

Electrical engineering involves designing electrical circuits including motors, electronic appliances, optical fiber networks, computers, and communication links. Electrical engineers often need to convert electrical energy to other forms of energy, with the understanding of mechanics and thermodynamics. Knowing the fundamentals of Electrical Engineering, in addition to, how small-scale components like integrated circuits and various types of transistor logic, all functions require at least an intermediate understanding of Electromagnetism, which you learn from Physics.

Electronics include the workings of transistors, diodes and semiconductors.  Integrated circuit uses physics to study how various tiny transistors are connected in circuits. Electromagnetism is used for antennae design, RF signals, wireless communications, etc. The field of robotics relies on a lot of things physics such as dynamics, chaos, mechanics, motors, etc. as well as optics (for cameras for computer vision).

Since Electrical engineering leads to Electronics engineering and finally to Computer engineering & Information Technology and Artificial Intelligence, it can be concluded that the mother of all engineering branches is Physics.

An engineer might design the product itself, or just figure out a way to build it. But either way, success is impossible without an understanding of the physics behind each of them.

Thus, it is true that Physics has a significant role in Engineering.

I conclude with a quote from the Missile Man of India, Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam, “Teaching is a very noble profession that shapes the character, caliber, and future of an individual. If people remember me as a good teacher that will be the biggest honor for me.”

About Author:

Dr. Mamta Takarkhede is Assistant Professor (Physics), in JD College of Engineering and Management. She has teaching experience of more than 8 years. Her area of interest is Material Physics.