Can a physicist explain comedy?

Only during those times where a physicist STOPS being a physicist, and reverts to being human, can comedy exist.

Therefore, according to a physicist, comedy does not exist and your question is false.

According to a PERSON who also happens to be a physicist then the answer must be the same as for any other person.

Comedy is a human emotion.

Although that said both my horse and my dog demonstrate a sense of humour even though it is different to a humans.

Not really an answer to the question, but I heard a great joke at an Open University summer school.

A group of students were discussing their various specialisations, when the engineer put a pink gin on the table and asked them to comment on it from their specialist point of view.

The biologist explained what it would do to the human liver.

The chemist explained what made it pink

The physicist measured the specific gravity.

The mathematician calculated the price per unit volume.

THE ENGINEER DRANK IT !!

PS, I'm an engineer.

This is really what you should be asking a neuroscientist. But as a physicist, I would say specific patterns of electrical signals in the brain brought on by external stimuli - the act of laughter within a group of laughing individuals is a social trait brought about by evolution meaning individuals feel towards each other - fitting in: group survival. The external stimuli is specific sound waves propogating through the air, recognised by the incredibly complex brain, and the appropriate emotional response occurs. Sorry about my grammar, I can't be bothered putting something so wordy properly.

Mild shock brought on by the punch line, which is relieved through laughter. This cause and effect has been studied many times, with the same result.

The mild shock is typically brought on by a well developed scenario that has an expected outcome, but the successful comedian tacks on an unexpected ending, the punch line.

EXAMPLE:

After pulling his thoroughly drenched and shivering wife out of the cold lake and into the boat, the concerned husband asked "Why didn't you sit down when I yelled wave?" [See source.]

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I think you mean psychologist not physicist

Cos I dont think a physicist would try to explain it.cos it aint in the realm of "physics"