Hello everyone,,

So I recently finished my BS in physics. Classical mechanics was by far my favorite subject . Is there any place for this kind of stuff in physics nowadays? It does not seem like it to me (there is some stuff with chaos and nonlinear dynamics). Also, I definitely want to go to grad school, but afterward I do not see myself going into academia (maybe not a research career at all). I want to work with modern defense and/or space technology in some way, likely on the R&D side of things.

All of this makes me think physics is not the place for me and that my interest in classical mechanics and aerospace and defense technology would be more at home in AeroE or MechE. However, I do like physics and I don't want to get away from it. I just want to find an avenue that combines my interest in classical physics (mainly mechanics, but I like EM alright as well) with my interest in aerospace and defense.

Does anybody have any thoughts on this? Did anybody else make a similar transition?

Classical Mechanics is having a revival in Universities.

 

Orbital Dynamics.

Planetary Dynamics

Fluid Mechanics

Aerodynamics

Continuum Mechanics

Nanomechanics and machines.

Dynamical stabilty.

Advanced gas dynamics

..........

This list is long and getting longer not shorter.

 

And what about the rest of classical Physics - Heat (Thermodynamics) Light (advanced Optics) and Sound (Advanced acoustics) and so on?

Edited April 20, 20196 yr by studiot

32 minutes ago, Macgomes said:

but afterward I do not see myself going into academia (maybe not a research career at all). 

Academia represents a minority in the possible landing spots. It might help to shape your thinking to look into this.