Question

what is difference between applied physics and physical engineering?

Answer 1

Well, looks like you are lost with the general idea of what the subjects are all about. Let me help you out with this.

Engineering is like a branch of physics. As you figured out, engineering is more about practical machine making and making machines or equipments which could be used more in our daily life. Engineering is bit more practical oriented.

Okay then what difference does is make with "Applied" Physics?

Applied physics is more of a general study to the practical approach.Let's say Papers like Optical Physics (Lasers), Biophysics, Electronics, Medical Physics, Geophysics all belong to the branch of Applied physics. The general idea about Applied physics is that you would be using a more practical approach than moving into more theoretical things like Quantum Mechanics or Solid State Physics.

Physical Engineering is even more practically oriented, and more precision focused. It is Engineering! Simply means building things. The paper could be anything like , lets say, Mechanical engineering , which is bit more down to build and usage oriented.

In a conclusion, Applied physics papers give the general idea of how things work and the engineering part takes skill. Just like a Blue print (Applied Physics) and a real machine (Physical Engineering).