Experimental physics
Experimental physics investigates natural phenomena by designing experiments, making measurements, and comparing observations with physical theories.
Scientific method: A systematic approach to investigating questions through observation, hypothesis, testing, and revision. Experimental physics applies this broader cycle to test claims about nature.
Metrology: The science of measurement, including standards, methods, and measurement uncertainty. Its standards make experimental measurements comparable across laboratories.
Particle physics experiment: An experiment that probes fundamental particles and their interactions, often using accelerators or detectors. Large collaborations use collisions and particle detectors to test fundamental theories.
Theoretical physics: The branch of physics that develops mathematical models and principles to explain and predict natural phenomena. It builds formal accounts that experimental results can test and refine.
Falsifiability: The property of a claim that could, in principle, be contradicted by an observation or experiment. Testable predictions let experiments expose physical claims to possible refutation.
Experimental design: The planning of procedures and controls to answer a research question with interpretable evidence. A well-designed experiment isolates the physical effect being tested.
Calibration: The comparison of an instrument's readings with known reference standards. Calibration connects detector readings to trusted physical quantities.
Condensed matter physics: The study of the physical properties of solids and liquids, especially collective behavior in materials. Experiments on materials reveal emergent properties such as superconductivity.
Computational physics: The use of numerical computation to solve physical problems and model systems. Simulation can explore regimes that are difficult to access directly in a laboratory.
Scientific realism: The philosophical view that successful scientific theories describe a mind-independent world, including unobservable entities. Experimental success informs debates about whether theories reveal real underlying structures.