Ten professions in which knowledge of physics is useful

Physics is a complex school subject – this was stated by more than 80% of young people in a survey conducted last year*, yet this does not discourage young people from studying physics. Students understand that knowledge of physics may be useful in the future – both in everyday life and in career development, since representatives of many professions need to know the fundamental laws of physics. The expert team of the “FIZMIX Eksperiments” knowledge competition invites you to find out which professions require knowledge of physics in particular.

Today’s and tomorrow’s industries and everyday life are inconceivable without the use of energy-efficient and environmentally friendly adaptronics and robotics in smart factories, transport and households. The generation and use of solar, wind and other alternative sources of electricity require a good knowledge of physics, as well as knowledge of physical processes in nature and technology and their interaction. All modern technologies are primarily based on the findings of physics and chemistry.

Robotics, automation and smart electrical technologies engineer

Today’s and tomorrow’s industries and everyday life are inconceivable without the use of energy-efficient and environmentally friendly adaptronics and robotics in smart factories, transport and households. The generation and use of solar, wind and other alternative sources of electricity require a good knowledge of physics, as well as knowledge of physical processes in nature and technology and their interaction. All modern technologies are primarily based on the findings of physics and chemistry.

Environmental engineer

Engineers, like researchers, can develop careers in many different directions by specialising in a particular field. Essentially, engineers apply knowledge of physics, chemistry, mathematics, technology and other subjects to seek solutions to various problems. Environmental engineers assess the impact of various industrial and economic processes on the environment, inspect companies and issue permits for economic activities, as well as ensure that these activities do not cause environmental harm. Environmental engineers monitor various natural processes and ensure that companies comply with environmental protection regulations.

Medical physicist

Medicine is not exactly the first field associated with physicists, yet physicists are very much needed in medicine! Modern equipment is increasingly capable of assisting in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases, but to operate it, one must understand physics. Medical physicists develop new and improve existing medical physics technologies and systems; moreover, this is a profession in which a labour shortage is forecast in the coming years.

Ship captain

The captain’s main task is to command the crew and operate the ship, as well as ensure that it is in appropriate technical condition. For a ship captain, as for most other seafarers, knowledge of physics is important, especially for operating the ship successfully and, upon learning of mechanical or communications failures, deciding as quickly and effectively as possible how to respond. One of the captain’s main duties is to identify and resolve problems, but to do so, it is important to know how.

Physics teacher or lecturer

For people who are good at sharing their knowledge with others, working as a teacher or lecturer is the right choice! Teachers constantly develop and test their knowledge by explaining it to others, while also looking for ever-new ways to make learning physics interesting. Everyday life in education is dynamic and full of challenges, as teachers can participate with their students in various competitions, such as the “FIZMIX Eksperiments” student knowledge competition organised by AS “Latvenergo”, which is being held for the 27th time this year.

Pilot

The entire aviation industry is based on knowledge of mathematics and physics, which means that pilots – whether aeroplane, helicopter or hot-air-balloon pilots – must be knowledgeable and able to understand the laws of physics. Aircraft pilots must both monitor the operation of equipment and operate aircraft safely, so they need to be able to deal with technical and meteorological issues, such as how strong wind flows will affect an aircraft’s take-off or landing and at what points wind strength will be too dangerous for safe flight.

Stunt coordinator

When watching James Bond and other action films, one might think that most of the film is created with computer graphics, but in reality, such films would be inconceivable without stunt performers and their abilities. For stunt performers’ tricks to succeed, an entire team of specialists is involved, supervised and directed by a stunt coordinator. Calculating speed and braking distances, the distance objects fall as a result of impact, or the effects of an explosion – all of this is based on knowledge of physics, which is essential for stunts to look credible and impressive and for stunt performers to remain safe.

Journalist

Any journalist with good analytical skills will be able to write a scientific article and substantiate or refute a discovery after working at it for a long time, but a journalist with knowledge of physics will write such an article much faster, to a higher standard and more engagingly. Science journalism is not an easy field, but it is one of the most promising in which to prove oneself and establish a niche.

Lighting or sound operator

Coming up with and producing spectacular concert shows and being present at performances by world-class artists – isn’t that every creative person’s dream? Such events require extensive technical support, and people who understand the laws of physics are needed to ensure the quality of the sound and lighting show.

Game programmer

Computer games are developed by programmers, and one may wonder what computer games have to do with physics. Representatives of the information technology (IT) sector point out that analytical thinking is very important in programming and work related to computer systems, and that it is best developed through knowledge of physics and mathematics. In addition, by understanding the laws of physics, a game developer can include elements and events that look credible, are close to reality and make the game more interesting.

“Students are increasingly less likely to choose to take a physics examination, and it might seem that the number of people knowledgeable about physics is declining, but we see the opposite. Every year, more than half a thousand young people from Latvia take part in the physics knowledge competition for students organised by AS “Latvenergo”; they are ready to put their knowledge to use and prove themselves. We see how active and knowledgeable the next generation is,  and we believe that their knowledge will shape their future  careers in a wide variety of professions,” says Mārtiņš Čakste, Chairman of the Board of AS ''Latvenergo''.

The physics knowledge competition organised by AS “Latvenergo” has traditionally been held every year and brings together eighth- and ninth-grade students. The competition has been granted the status of an open physics olympiad.

About the knowledge competition ''FIZMIX Eksperiments''

The competition is organised by AS "Latvenergo" in cooperation with the National Centre for Education, ''TVNET", "Cido Grupa", ''Muesli Graci'', "Ādažu kraukšķi", "DPD", "Skrīveru saldumi", ''Elektrum Energy Efficiency Centre'', ''Ilustrētā Junioriem'', "Adventures Zone'', ''Čili Pizza'', ''Roadgames'', ''SEIK'', "Lielvārds", "LMT", the Institute for Environmental Solutions and "Aerodium".

The knowledge competition organised by AS "Latvenergo" is being held for the 27th time, bringing together teams from Latvian schools attended by eighth- and ninth-grade students. The aim of the "FIZMIX Eksperiments" competition is to educate students about the safe and efficient use of electricity in everyday life, foster young people’s interest in the exact sciences, demonstrate in an engaging way how to apply theoretical knowledge in practice, and encourage young people’s professional interest by studying physics in greater depth. With the help of the "FIZMIX Eksperiments" competition, both teachers and students can see that physics is not merely complex theory, but exists all around us and can be exciting. More information about the competition is available at www.fizmix.lv/eksperiments.

* The study was conducted by AS "Latvenergo" in cooperation with Mindshare in March 2021, surveying 500 respondents aged 14–18.