Physics: Principles and Problems

Chapter 1: A Physics Toolkit

Web Links


Significant Figures
This page features an online tutorial quiz on significant figures. Visit this site and take the quiz.
( http://science.widener.edu/svb/tutorial/sigfigures.html )
Function Grapher
This Java Applet works like an online graphic calculator. Visit this site and graph some functions.
( http://www.hofstra.edu/%7Ematsrc/Graf/Graf.html )
NIST Physics Laboratory
This is the National Institute of Science and Technologyâs home page. It includes links to the web clock calibrated by NIST, SI units, and fundamental physical constants. Visit this site and discover what research is currently being done at NIST.
( http://physics.nist.gov/ )
How Things Work
This page is maintained by A. Bloomenfield, the author of "How Things Work: The Physics of Everday Life." Visit this site and learn how some common items work, or even submit a question.
( http://landau1.phys.virginia.edu/Education/Teaching/HowThingsWork/home.html )
Yahoo!
Use this database to search for any physics topic. Scroll down the page and examine the physics topics. Then search for recent winners of the Nobel Prize in Physics.
( http://www.yahoo.com/Science/Physics )
The American Physical Society
Check out current physics news, research, and links. Visit this site and discover how physicists and teachers can benefit from memberships in professional organizations like the APS.
( http://www.aps.org/ )
Scientific American Page
Browse through current and past issues of Scientific American. Read a recent article and explain it to a friend.
( http://www.sciam.com )
Essentials of the SI
Visit this site, developed by the NIST Physics Laboratory, for a complete explanation of the International System of Units (SI), including base units, derived units, and prefixes. You will also find tables of physical constants and style conventions for referencing SI units in scientific documents. How is the speed of light in a vacuum used in the base unit definition of the meter?
( http://physics.nist.gov/cuu/Units/ )
WWW Unit Converter
Here is a simple and elegant units converter for use during your physics studies. How may different units of pressure does it provide for?
( http://www.digitaldutch.com/unitconverter/ )
Clemson University Tutorial: Accuracy and Precision
This page from Clemson University Physics Tutorials gives a clear explanation of the difference between accuracy and precision. What could cause a series of measurements in your physics lab to be precise but inaccurate? What could cause accurate measurements to be imprecise?
( http://phoenix.phys.clemson.edu/tutorials/ap/index.html )
Java Applets on Physics
A Java applet is a small program embedded in a web page. This collection of applets illustrates physics concepts by simulation, that is, by graphically modeling physics principles.
( http://www.walter-fendt.de/ph11e/index.html )
Freeware Simulations & Lessons in Physics, Science, Math, & Engineering
Here is collection of math, scientific, and engineering tools, all of them freeware or shareware. Bookmark this site for use during your physics studies. Try out some of the physics simulations.
( http://www.scienceshareware.com/ )
Electric Field Applet
This applet lets you set up a distribution of point charges and then calculates the equipotential lines and the electric field lines.
( http://www.cco.caltech.edu/~phys1/java/phys1/EField/EField.html )
Capacitors, A Tutorial
Here is a very readable introduction to capacitors that includes device history, capacitor types, definition of capacitance, and how to read capacitor codes. What two important caveats apply to working with electrolytic capacitors?
( http://www.uoguelph.ca/~antoon/gadgets/caps/caps.html )
In Defense of Robert Andrews Millikan
You will enjoy reading this historical account of Robert Millikan's famous experiment. David Goodstein addresses a number of controversies and scandals that have recently surrounded Millikan's work by carefully examining the original laboratory notes and manuscripts.
( http://pr.caltech.edu/periodicals/EandS/articles/Millikan Feature.pdf )
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