Theoretical physics

In physics, theoretical physics is a discipline that uses mathematical models and abstractions of physical things and systems to explain, predict, and justify natural occurrences. It is a branch of physics that was founded in the 1950s. This is in contrast to experimental physics, which investigates similar phenomena via the use of experimental instruments.

The progress of research is usually dependent on the interaction between experimental investigations and theoretical considerations. However, in certain instances, theoretical physics conforms strictly to mathematical rigour requirements while placing minimal emphasis on experimental results and observations. Albert Einstein, for example, was concerned with the Lorentz transformation, which rendered Maxwell's equations invariant, while he appeared to be uninterested in the Michelson–Morley experiment, which measured the Earth's drift through a luminiferous aether during the development of special relativity. In contrast, Einstein was given the Nobel Prize for his contribution to the understanding of the photoelectric effect, which had hitherto been regarded as an experimental finding without a theoretical explanation.