Physics

Websites to support the study of Physics

General Physics sites

Physics

http://dir.yahoo.com/science/physics/

Provides links to information on many physics topics, organized by categories, including: history of physics, amusement park physics, superconductivity, etc. The most popular sites have brief annotations.

Conceptual Physics

http://www.phschool.com/science/cpsurf/

Provides six units on physics topics, including: mechanics, properties of matter, heat, sound & light, electricity & magnetism, and atomic & nuclear physics. Includes information, questions, simulations, and links to related sites. (01/12)

Physlink: Physics & astronomy

http://www.physlink.com/Reference/Index.cfm

Features teacher and student resources, including online periodic tables, Nobel prizes, MSDS, online conversions, etc. Includes links to journals, astronomy, and related physics and general science sites. (01/10)

Science Learning Network Resources

http://www.sln.org/resources/index.html

Feature stories change regularly and usually include some physics of sports. Information and activities are presented as units that are listed by title and include a brief annotation. (00/03)

Fizzics Fizzle

http://library.thinkquest.org/16600/

Provides information on beginners, intermediate and advanced physics topics. Includes a discussion of the theory of relativity, hyperspce, quantum mechanics and the future of physics. Links to related sites. (01/12)

Physics

http://physics.about.com

Provides 700 sites in all areas of physics, categorized by subject matter, including the following: atomic physics, biophysics, electromagnetism, lasers, nuclear physics, optics, particle physics, physicists, relativity, sport physics, weather physics, etc. Includes features on the latest news stories. (00/11)

Physics Web

http://PhysicsWeb.org

Provides feature stories from the Physics World print magazine. Includes the latest news, reviews, web links, and careers & jobs in physics. (00/11)

Little shop of Physics

http://littleshop.physics.colostate.edu/

Provides online hands-on science experiments, ideas, resources & instructional materials for teachers, and science fair project ideas for students. (01/12)

Fear of Physics

http://www.fearofphysics.com/

Features non-technical explanations and simulations for a wide variety of physics concepts. Topics include: speed & acceleration, roller coasters, pendulums, the doppler effect, Einstein’s relativity, friction, etc. Includes a teacher area. (01/09)

The Virtual Laboratory - Physics Web

http://physicsweb.org/resources

Features an extensive collection of virtual experiments and activities related to physics. While they are not sorted into topics, each is clearly described as to intent or purpose. Virtually all physics topics are covered by at least one of the activities in this virtual laboratory. (01/09)

Chaos at Maryland

http://www-chaos.umd.edu/

An advanced level site dealing with the multidisciplinary science of chaos theory. Includes research on chaotic dynamics, a searchable database; hyperlinks to scientists, and links to other web resources. (00/05)

American Institute of Physics

http://www.aip.org

Provides information on jobs & careers in physics, the history of physics, women in physics and Nobel prize winners. Includes links to exhibits and to Physics Today online magazine. (00/11)

Center for the History of Physics

http://www.aip.org/history/

Provides information on the history of modern physics and allied fields including astronomy, geophysics and optics. Exhibits include the discovery of the electron, Albert Einstein, Werner Heisenberg, Marie Curie & radioactivity, Sakharov & nuclear weapons, etc. Features thousands of photographs of physicists and astronomers of the 20th Century. Links to related sites and career information. (00/09)

History of Physics

http://web.mit.edu/afs/athena.mit.edu/user/r/e/redingtn/www/netadv/hist.html

Features links to sites on the history of physics, the various theories and fields, plus biographies of famous physicists. The sites are sorted by general subject area. (01/06)

The Laws List

http://www.alcyone.com/max/physics/laws/index.html

Features an alphabetical listing of laws, rules, principles, effects, paradoxes, limits, constants, and experiments in physics, essentially a dictionary of physics and astronomy terms. (01/10)

Physics 2000

http://www.colorado.edu/physics/2000/index.pl

Features an interactive site on many physics related topics. A visual and conceptual look at 20th Century science and technology devices. Topics include: Einstein’s legacy (high tech devices); the Atomic lab with experiments; and the quantum atom, polarization, elements as atoms, the periodic table, and isotopes & radioactivity. Uses hyperlinks to lead to additional informaiton. (01/10)

Smile Program Physics Index

http://www.iit.edu/~smile/physinde.html

Features over 200 single concept lesson plans organized by the following topics: electricity & magnetism, matter, mechanics, waves, sound & optics, fluids, etc.) (00/05)

Simple but significant science using everyday materials

http://scifun.chem.wisc.edu/HOMEEXPTS/nichols.html

Provides brief descriptions for secondary science and physics teachers on a variety of experiments.

(00/05)

Atomic Physics

Particle Adventure - The fundamentals of matter and force

http://particleadventure.org/

Introduces the theory of fundamental particles and forces, called the Standard Model. Explores experimental evidence and the reasons physicists want to go beyond the theory. Includes links to related physics sites. Available in French. (00/05)

European Organization for Nuclear Research

http://www.cern.ch/Public

Hosted by the European Laboratory for Particle Physics, the world’s largest particle physics centre. Also the home of the scientist who invented the World Wide Web. Explores matter and the forces that hold it together. Includes articles. (00/11)

How nuclear medicine works

http://www.howstuffworks.com/nuclear-medicine.htm

Provides information on what nuclear medicine is, how it works, and examines its future. Includes information on PET scans and bone scans.(02/02)

How nuclear radiation works

http://www.howstuffworks.com/nuclear.htm

Provides an introduction to how nuclear radiation works. Includes a definition of nuclear decay.(02/02)

Nuclear Reactors

http://howthingswork.virginia.edu/nuclear_reactors.html

Provides answers to frequently asked questions about nuclear reactors.(02/02)

Hydrogen Bomb

http://www.factmonster.com/ce6/sci/A0824719.html

Provides an encyclopedia entry for the hydrogen bomb. Hyperlinked to related articles.(02/02)

The Hydrogen Bomb: The Basics

http://www.atomicarchive.com/Fusion/Fusion2.shtml

Provides a basic overview of the hydrogen bomb. Links to the Atomic Archive main site with its documents, biographies, videos, timeline, links, etc.(02/02)

Biographies

Albert Einstein Archive

http://www.albert-einstein.org/

Provides an extensive biography of Albert Einstein. Includes a multimedia exhibit and audio recordings from his life and achievements. Use the sitemap to navigate the extensive site. (02/04)

Albert Einstein: Image and Impact (Center for the History of physics)

http://www.aip.org/history/einstein/

Provides a series of historical accounts of the life of Albert Einstein using photographs, sound clips and text. (02/04)

Einstein Revealed (NOVA)

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/einstein/

Provides a timeline of the life of Albert Einstein, as well as two science “lessons” on light and on tive travel. Includes a synopsis of how Einstein’s work laid the foundation for modern cosmology. Links to related sites. (02/04)

Everything’s Relative

http://whyfiles.org/052einstein/

Provides explanations about several of the theories of Albert Einstein and how 20th Century physics has vindicated these theories. Includes a brief biography. (02/04)

Einstein Archives Online

http://alberteinstein.info

Provides access to Einsteins scientific and non-scientific manuscripts. Includes a biographical timeline.

Professior Stephen W. Hawking

http://www.hawking.org.uk/home/hindex.html

Includes a biography, text of some of his lectures and a list of his publications.

Electricity & magnetism

SuperConductors

http://superconductors.org

An easy to understand site that includes the history, uses and explanations of different types of superconductors. Includes links to related physics sites. (00/05)

Articles about electricity

http://www.eskimo.com/~billb/ele-edu.html

The articles present basic information and give plans for 15 simple electrical devices. Links to many different topics are available through the site map and include educational resources, online tutorials, and science lesson plans. (00/05)

Theatre of Electricity

http://www.mos.org/sln/toe/

Provides information on the history of the VandeGraaff generator and the Tesla coils, as well as a discussion of lightning. Includes animation, video, a picture gallery, and teacher resources. (00/05)

Tesla - Master of Lightning

http://www.pbs.org/tesla/

Features the life and legacy of Nikola Tesla, the scientist and inventor. Includes information for teachers and links to related resources. (01/03)

Electromagnetic Spectrum

http://imagine.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/science/know_l1/emspectrum.html

Provides details and diagrams about the electromagnetic spectrum and the various wave lengths produced. Makes extensive use of hyperlinks to define and provide additional information. (02/02)

The Electromagnetic Radiation Health Threat

http://www.nzine.co.nz/features/neilcherry.html

Provides an article written by a doctor detailing the various health threats of the frequent use of electromagnetic radiation sources such cell phones, microwaves, and other household appliances as well as overhead transmission lines. (02/02)

Making waves - An online guide to sound & electromagnetic radiation

http://www.smgaels.org/physics/home.htm

Provides a student-produced site for the study of electromagnetic radiation as found in radios, microwaves, infrared, light & lasers, ultraviolet, x-rays and gamma rays.(02/02)

Mechanics

Mechanics (The Physics Department)

http://id.mind.net/~zona/mstm/physics/mechanics/mechanics.html

Provides information on mechanics, the way matter and force interact with each other. Topics include: Kinematics, Forces, Vectors, Curved motion, Momentum, Energy, and Harmonic motion.

Waves (The Physics Department)

http://id.mind.net/~zona/mstm/physics/waves/waves.html

Provides information and models of mechanical waves and how they move and are related to mathematics. Topics include: Parts of a wave, wave reflection, Huygen’s principle, standing waves, transverse and longitudinal waves, and interference.

Sound

The Soundry

http://library.thinkquest.org/19537/Main.html

An interactive site exploring sound, how we perceive it and the basics of how it is made. Topics include: the ear, the physics of sound, applications of sound, and a timeline. Includes an interactive sound lab. (01/12)

Guitar Acoustics

http://www.phys.unsw.edu.au/music/guitar

Provides information on the physics of guitar music acoustices along with basics about sound and how a guitar works. Includes links to flutes, violins, speech acoustics and the science of music. (00/05)

How bats navigate in the dark

http://birding.about.com/library/weekly/bl101897a.htm?once=true&

Provides information about echolocation in bats and how it was discovered. Includes links to related information about echolocation and the life of bats.

Cetacea Echolocation

http://nmml.afsc.noaa.gov/education/cetaceans/cetaceaechol.htm

Provides answers to many frequently asked questions about how toothed whales use echolocation to find their food. (01/10)

How Ultrasound works

http://www.howstuffworks.com/ultrasound.htm

Provides information on how what ultrasound is and how an ultrasound machine works. Includes information on the different types of ultrasound.(02/02)

Making waves - An online guide to sound & electromagnetic radiation

http://www.smgaels.org/physics/home.htm

Provides a student-produced site for the study of electromagnetic radiation as found in radios, microwaves, infrared, light & lasers, ultraviolet, x-rays and gamma rays.(02/02)

Sports Physics

Science of Baseball

http://www.exploratorium.edu/baseball

Features interactive online exhibits, articles, multimedia and activities that use baseball to look at the physics of sports. Links to related sites. (00/05)

Science of hockey

http://www.exploratorium.edu/hockey

Uses the NHL San Jose Sharks hockey team as the example in the physics of sports. Examines the mechanics of skating, high tech gear for the players, reaction time, speed of the puck, and the energy involved in mid-ice collisions. (00/05)

Gravity & Balls in flight

http://www.ncsa.uiuc.edu/Cyberia/VideoTestbed/Projects/Sports/test4.html

A multimedia site uses baseball, football, track & field, basketball, gymnastics, weight training as examples of the physics of sports. Includes thought provoking questions to stimulate discussion. (00/05)

Miscellaneous physics topics

Fireworks - The Science Behind the Spectacle

http://library.thinkquest.org/15384/

Provides information on the history of fireworks, their chemistry, the physics required to make them work, and how pyrotechnicians set them up for display. (01/09)

Light (The Physics Department)

http://id.mind.net/~zona/mstm/physics/light/light.html

Provides information and models of the study of light. Features ray optics (including reflection & refraction) and the colours of visible light.

Antimatter: Mirror of the Universe

http://livefromcern.web.cern.ch/livefromcern/antimatter/

Provides a history of the concept of antimatter, an explanation of what it is, how it might be used, where it is found in our daily lives both in fact and fiction, and current experiments in creating it. Includes lectures on the physics of matter. (00/10)

Snow Crystals

http://www.its.caltech.edu/~atomic/snowcrystals/

Provides information on the physics of snow crystals and snowflakes. Includes a history of scientific observations, preserving crystals, images, and links to related sites on snow. (00/05)

Building Big

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/buildingbig/sitemap.html

Provides information about building bridges, domes, skyscrapers, dams and tunnels. Includes a variety of interactive labs on forces, loads, materials, and shapes. Provides five challenges and a databank of local wonders. Includes biographies of 10 engineers and architects. Includes an educator’s guide. (01/12)

X-Ray Astronomy Field Guide

http://chandra.harvard.edu/xray_astro/xrays.html

Provides a history of x-rays, as well as their use in astronomy. Includes diagrams and links to related sites. (02/02)

How night vision works

http://www.howstuffworks.com/nightvision.htm

Provides extensive information on how night vision works through the use of infrared light.(02/02)

How radio works

http://www.howstuffworks.com/radio.htm

Provides information on the basics of radios and radio transmissions. Links to other technologies that rely on radio waves.(02/02)

AM, FM Waves and Sound

http://www.cybercollege.com/frtv/frtv017.htm

Provides information about AM, FM and TV waves. Includes diagrams and links to related information modules.(02/02)

Microwave Ovens - How things work

http://rabi.phys.virginia.edu/HTW/microwave_ovens.html

Provides the answers to frequently asked questions about how microwave ovens work.(02/02)

Microwave Ovens

http://www.colorado.edu/physics/2000/microwaves/

Provides information on how microwave ovens work and what they do to water.(02/02)