Some Resources for Introductory Physics

See also Educational Resources in Physics, Astronomy, and Related Fields, Favorite Physics Links and Favorite Astronomy Links.

You can learn how to use Google to do physics calculations by reading Ward, David W., “Physics the Google Way,” The Physics Teacher, 43, 381-83 (Sept 2005).

Study Tips for Introductory Physics Students
Good advice from Oberlin College physics faculty.

The Math and Physics Help Home Page by Kenny Felder.
Some very good essays, e.g., "Think Like a Physicist," and a good list of links to other resources.

Calculus-Based Physics
A free physics textbook by Jeffrey W. Schnick, Saint Anselm College

Learn Physics Today
Lessons, tests, and even a calculator are provided by ThinkQuest, student-created educational sites.

NTNUJAVA Virtual Physics Laboratorv
Excellent collection of physics java applets by Prof. Fu-Kwun Hwang of National Taiwan Normal University.

Physics Animations and Simulations
Applets and other animations which demonstrate many things. Fun!

Lunar Lander
A simulation from the Chabot Space & Science Center.

PhysClips
A multimedia site for introductory mechanics provided by the University of New South Wales, Australia.

Physics Problems
Sample problems for this course and similar ones, with hints and solutions.

The Interactive Physics Problem Set
Almost 100 practice problems—accompanied by detailed solutions—for a first course in calculus-based physics. It is even better with the accompanying simulations, which use Interactive Physics.

A Dictionary of Units
SI and other units, conversion factors, and much more from Russ Rowlett of the University of North Carolina.

fun@learning.physics
An on-line course on dynamics, including interactive simulations. However, most of it is not free.

Physics Tutorials
from the University of Guelph. Don’t miss this one.

WebPhysics
A course at Indiana University-Purdue University at Indianapolis.

Speed
Simple discussion from St. Vincent College in England.

The Free Body Diagram/Kinetic Diagram
Several examples from the University of Alberta.

Rotational Motion
Explanations of torque, angular momentum, etc. from the University of Guelph.

Acoustics and Vibration Animations
Dan Russell of Kettering University presents animations illustrating such things as harmonic motion, including damped and driven, and other wave-related phenomena.

Physics for Beginners
Anonymous site provides wordy discussion of high school physics topics. No calculus, few equations.

About Temperature
Excellent tutorial from the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research.

The Geostationary Belt
with animations, written by Andrew Sinclair.

S.O.S. MATHematics
A resource for math lessons from algebra to differential equations.