EvidenceLib · Open textbook · CC BY 4.0

University Physics Volume 2

OpenStax · 119 sections in 17 chapters. Each section is its own page.

Front matter

• Preface

• Units

• Conversion Factors

• Fundamental Constants

• Astronomical Data

• Mathematical Formulas

• Chemistry

• The Greek Alphabet

Temperature and Heat

• Introduction

• Temperature and Thermal Equilibrium

• Thermometers and Temperature Scales

• Thermal Expansion

• Heat Transfer, Specific Heat, and Calorimetry

• Phase Changes

• Mechanisms of Heat Transfer

The Kinetic Theory of Gases

• Introduction

• Molecular Model of an Ideal Gas

• Pressure, Temperature, and RMS Speed

• Heat Capacity and Equipartition of Energy

• Distribution of Molecular Speeds

The First Law of Thermodynamics

• Introduction

• Thermodynamic Systems

• Work, Heat, and Internal Energy

• First Law of Thermodynamics

• Thermodynamic Processes

• Heat Capacities of an Ideal Gas

• Adiabatic Processes for an Ideal Gas

The Second Law of Thermodynamics

• Introduction

• Reversible and Irreversible Processes

• Heat Engines

• Refrigerators and Heat Pumps

• Statements of the Second Law of Thermodynamics

• The Carnot Cycle

• Entropy

• Entropy on a Microscopic Scale

Electric Charges and Fields

• Introduction

• Electric Charge

• Conductors, Insulators, and Charging by Induction

• Coulomb's Law

• Electric Field

• Calculating Electric Fields of Charge Distributions

• Electric Field Lines

• Electric Dipoles

Gauss's Law

• Introduction

• Electric Flux

• Explaining Gauss’s Law

• Applying Gauss’s Law

• Conductors in Electrostatic Equilibrium

Electric Potential

• Introduction

• Electric Potential Energy

• Electric Potential and Potential Difference

• Calculations of Electric Potential

• Determining Field from Potential

• Equipotential Surfaces and Conductors

• Applications of Electrostatics

Capacitance

• Introduction

• Capacitors and Capacitance

• Capacitors in Series and in Parallel

• Energy Stored in a Capacitor

• Capacitor with a Dielectric

• Molecular Model of a Dielectric

Current and Resistance

• Introduction

• Electrical Current

• Model of Conduction in Metals

• Resistivity and Resistance

• Ohm's Law

• Electrical Energy and Power

• Superconductors

Direct-Current Circuits

• Introduction

• Electromotive Force

• Resistors in Series and Parallel

• Kirchhoff's Rules

• Electrical Measuring Instruments

• RC Circuits

• Household Wiring and Electrical Safety

Magnetic Forces and Fields

• Introduction

• Magnetism and Its Historical Discoveries

• Magnetic Fields and Lines

• Motion of a Charged Particle in a Magnetic Field

• Magnetic Force on a Current-Carrying Conductor

• Force and Torque on a Current Loop

• The Hall Effect

• Applications of Magnetic Forces and Fields

Sources of Magnetic Fields

• Introduction

• The Biot-Savart Law

• Magnetic Field Due to a Thin Straight Wire

• Magnetic Force between Two Parallel Currents

• Magnetic Field of a Current Loop

• Ampère’s Law

• Solenoids and Toroids

• Magnetism in Matter

Electromagnetic Induction

• Introduction

• Faraday’s Law

• Lenz's Law

• Motional Emf

• Induced Electric Fields

• Eddy Currents

• Electric Generators and Back Emf

• Applications of Electromagnetic Induction

Inductance

• Introduction

• Mutual Inductance

• Self-Inductance and Inductors

• Energy in a Magnetic Field

• RL Circuits

• Oscillations in an LC Circuit

• RLC Series Circuits

Alternating-Current Circuits

• Introduction

• AC Sources

• Simple AC Circuits

• RLC Series Circuits with AC

• Power in an AC Circuit

• Resonance in an AC Circuit

• Transformers

Electromagnetic Waves

• Introduction

• Maxwell’s Equations and Electromagnetic Waves

• Plane Electromagnetic Waves

• Energy Carried by Electromagnetic Waves

• Momentum and Radiation Pressure

• The Electromagnetic Spectrum

Attribution. University Physics Volume 2, OpenStax, Rice University, and the contributing authors credited in the book. Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International. Source revision db44eb99e9 of openstax/osbooks-university-physics-bundle (2026-02-02). 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.