November 1, 2004
A: FROM MENTOR MAYLING WONG IN IL
Majoring in Physics can lead you to many, many jobs. I have heard of
physicists working for financial companies because their analytical
skills can help simulate different scenarios of the stock market. I
have heard of physicists working for Google because their analytical
skills can help them to "think outside of the box" and solve problems in
a creative way.

I work at a national laboratory that does research in one particular
area of physics. Here at Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory,
physicists study high-energy particle physics. They are interested in
the characteristics of sub-atomic particles (quarks, leptons, muons,
etch) that make up matter. A particle accelerator pushes protons and
anti-protons up to almost the speed of light. Then, the protons and
anti-protons are smashed against each other. The resulting collision
has "smaller" particles that fly out. It is those particles that
physicists want to learn about. Theoretical physicists work on coming
up with the characteristics of the sub-atomic particles using
theoretical proofs and computer simulations. Experimental physicists
work with engineers to design, build, and operate the experiments that
prove the theory. The experimental physicists work to build and
maintain our particle acclerator and all of its components. They also
build and operate the detectors to "see" what comes out of the particle
collisions, hoping to record the particles as the theorists predicted.
If you would like more information, feel free to check out our website:
www.fnal.gov

This scenario is a picture of one area of physics. Hopefully it gives
you an idea that physics majors can end up working in fascinating jobs.