Physics: What Do You Really Study?
From the fundamental laws of nature to quanta, light and matter - a deep combination of theory, mathematics and experiment.
What Do You Study in Physics? Core Subjects, Year by Year
What do the degree courses cover?
Open a course to learn about its main topics and see what the work looks like in practice.
What do you learn in the course?Classical mechanics?
The course teaches to describe and predict movement using forces and conservation laws. We start with kinematics and Newton's laws and progress to work and energy, momentum, rotational motion, gravity and vibrations, while building a model from diagram to equation and solution.
Main topics
- Kinematics and Newton's laws
- Work, energy and momentum
- Rotation, torque and angular momentum
- Gravity, oscillations and many-body systems
What does it look like in practice?
For example, analyze a pendulum that is not at a small angle, choose a coordinate, write an equation of motion and check when the harmonic motion approximation stops fitting.
What do you learn in the course?Hadova and linear algebra for physicists?
Learn the quantitative language in which physics describes change, accumulation and directions in space. The course connects derivatives and integrals with vectors, matrices, systems of equations and eigenvalues and emphasizes the geometric and physical significance of the calculation.
Main topics
- Derivatives, integrals and series
- functions in several variables
- Vectors, matrices and copies
- Eigenvalues and systems of equations
What does it look like in practice?
For example, represent a system of masses and springs in a matrix and use eigenvalues to find its natural modes of oscillation.
What do you learn in the course?A mathematical introduction for physicists?
The course expands tools that are required repeatedly in physics courses and teaches to choose a mathematical method according to the structure of the problem. Dealing with differential equations, vector analysis, complex numbers, Fourier series and special functions along with approximations and checking dimensions.
Main topics
- Differential equations
- Gradient, Divergence and Rotor
- Complex numbers and special functions
- Fourier series, approximations and dimensional analysis
What does it look like in practice?
For example, decompose a periodic signal into Fourier components and explain how each frequency progresses differently in a linear physical system.
What do you learn in the course?Programming and physics lab?
Learn to move from a real system to data and a testable conclusion. You practice experiment construction, calibration and sensors, uncertainty and model fitting, and at the same time write code for data processing, simulation, graphs and automation of measurements.
Main topics
- Experimental design, calibration and data acquisition
- Uncertainties, errors and curve fitting
- Scientific programming and data structures
- Simulation, illustration and lab report
What does it look like in practice?
For example, one measures acceleration in motion, reads the data in the code, fits a model with uncertainties and compares the obtained parameter to the theoretical value.
What do you learn in the course?Analytical mechanics?
The course formulates mechanics through energy, generalized coordinates, and variational principles rather than tracking each force separately. You learn Lagrange, Hamilton, constraints and symmetries and get tools that are suitable for complex systems and form the basis for quanta and fields.
Main topics
- Generalized coordinates and constraints
- The principle of operation and Lagrange's equations
- Symmetries and conservation laws
- Hamiltonian formalism and the phase space
What does it look like in practice?
For example, we derive the equations of motion of a double pendulum from its energies and understand why the choice of coordinates simplifies the handling of constraints.
Frequently Asked Questions About Physics
Is a degree in Physics difficult?
There is no single answer — difficulty depends on your background, the institution, and your chosen study pace. According to this site's estimate, The degree is highly quantitative — mathematics and formal reasoning appear in nearly every course, and this is the part most students describe as challenging, and a large share of the reading material is in English. A good way to assess fit is to review the course map on this page: if most of the subjects interest you, the effort will usually feel worthwhile.
How long does a degree in Physics take?
Usually 3–4 years (Single-major and combined programs). Exact duration varies by institution and depends on course load and the track you choose.
Physics or Chemistry — which is right for me?
The degrees most closely related to Physics are Chemistry, Mathematics, and Statistics and Data Science. Their differences are usually in emphasis rather than the overall subject, so the fastest way to decide is to compare their course maps — what you actually study in each program, year by year. You can also open the degree comparison tool to view the differences side by side.
What do you do with a physics degree?
Physics graduates are in demand outside academia: algorithms and high-tech, defense and optics industries, fintech and quantitative analysis, and quantum — a growing field in Israel. Research requires graduate degrees.
How hard is a physics degree?
Among the most demanding: heavy math from day one, labs, and abstract thinking. 5 units of math and physics required. Graduates are marked by employers as high-level problem solvers.
Do you need a PhD to make a living from physics?
No. For academia — yes; but most graduates join industry after the bachelor's or master's, in development, algorithms and data roles, at some of the highest salaries in the market.
Where can you study this?
Physics is taught at all research universities. Common combinations: physics-mathematics and physics-computer science.