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Physics

OpenStax · 100 sections in 24 chapters. Each section is its own page.

Front matter

• Preface

• Reference Tables

What is Physics?

• Introduction

• Physics: Definitions and Applications

• The Scientific Methods

• The Language of Physics: Physical Quantities and Units

Motion in One Dimension

• Introduction

• Relative Motion, Distance, and Displacement

• Speed and Velocity

• Position vs. Time Graphs

• Velocity vs. Time Graphs

Acceleration

• Introduction

• Acceleration

• Representing Acceleration with Equations and Graphs

Forces and Newton’s Laws of Motion

• Introduction

• Force

• Newton's First Law of Motion: Inertia

• Newton's Second Law of Motion

• Newton's Third Law of Motion

Motion in Two Dimensions

• Introduction

• Vector Addition and Subtraction: Graphical Methods

• Vector Addition and Subtraction: Analytical Methods

• Projectile Motion

• Inclined Planes

• Simple Harmonic Motion

Circular and Rotational Motion

• Introduction

• Angle of Rotation and Angular Velocity

• Uniform Circular Motion

• Rotational Motion

Newton's Law of Gravitation

• Introduction

• Kepler's Laws of Planetary Motion

• Newton's Law of Universal Gravitation and Einstein's Theory of General Relativity

Momentum

• Introduction

• Linear Momentum, Force, and Impulse

• Conservation of Momentum

• Elastic and Inelastic Collisions

Work, Energy, and Simple Machines

• Introduction

• Work, Power, and the Work–Energy Theorem

• Mechanical Energy and Conservation of Energy

• Simple Machines

Special Relativity

• Introduction

• Postulates of Special Relativity

• Consequences of Special Relativity

Thermal Energy, Heat, and Work

• Introduction

• Temperature and Thermal Energy

• Heat, Specific Heat, and Heat Transfer

• Phase Change and Latent Heat

Thermodynamics

• Introduction

• Zeroth Law of Thermodynamics: Thermal Equilibrium

• First law of Thermodynamics: Thermal Energy and Work

• Second Law of Thermodynamics: Entropy

• Applications of Thermodynamics: Heat Engines, Heat Pumps, and Refrigerators

Waves and Their Properties

• Introduction

• Types of Waves

• Wave Properties: Speed, Amplitude, Frequency, and Period

• Wave Interaction: Superposition and Interference

Sound

• Introduction

• Speed of Sound, Frequency, and Wavelength

• Sound Intensity and Sound Level

• Doppler Effect and Sonic Booms

• Sound Interference and Resonance

Light

• Introduction

• The Electromagnetic Spectrum

• The Behavior of Electromagnetic Radiation

Mirrors and Lenses

• Introduction

• Reflection

• Refraction

• Lenses

Diffraction and Interference

• Introduction

• Understanding Diffraction and Interference

• Applications of Diffraction, Interference, and Coherence

Static Electricity

• Introduction

• Electrical Charges, Conservation of Charge, and Transfer of Charge

• Coulomb's law

• Electric Field

• Electric Potential

• Capacitors and Dielectrics

Electrical Circuits

• Introduction

• Ohm's law

• Series Circuits

• Parallel Circuits

• Electric Power

Magnetism

• Introduction

• Magnetic Fields, Field Lines, and Force

• Motors, Generators, and Transformers

• Electromagnetic Induction

The Quantum Nature of Light

• Introduction

• Planck and Quantum Nature of Light

• Einstein and the Photoelectric Effect

• The Dual Nature of Light

The Atom

• Introduction

• The Structure of the Atom

• Nuclear Forces and Radioactivity

• Half Life and Radiometric Dating

• Nuclear Fission and Fusion

• Medical Applications of Radioactivity: Diagnostic Imaging and Radiation

Particle Physics

• Introduction

• The Four Fundamental Forces

• Quarks

• The Unification of Forces

Attribution. Physics, OpenStax, Rice University, and the contributing authors credited in the book. Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International. Source revision 56e71824e7 of openstax/osbooks-physics (2026-10-13). CC BY 4.0. Original source ↗. Text edition of a pinned CC BY 4.0 source revision of the OpenStax book, converted from CNXML by the EvidenceHelix importer. Original prose, learning objectives, tables, exercises, glossary and captions are preserved; images are not copied (figures link to the original source and keep their credits). No new content was added. Later revisions of this book can carry different licence terms and are not used.