Skip to content Built on open, peer-reviewed sources: OpenStax, The Feynman Lectures on Physics, HyperPhysics, NASA and NIST. See our sources .
© 2026 Physics Playground. Made for the curious. Language English Português
College PhysicsPreface 1 Introduction: The Nature of Science and Physics 2 Kinematics 3 Two-Dimensional Kinematics 4 Dynamics: Force and Newton's Laws of Motion 5 Further Applications of Newton's Laws: Friction, Drag, and Elasticity 6 Uniform Circular Motion and Gravitation 7 Work, Energy, and Energy Resources 8 Linear Momentum and Collisions 9 Statics and Torque 10 Rotational Motion and Angular Momentum 11 Fluid Statics 12 Fluid Dynamics and Its Biological and Medical Applications 13 Temperature, Kinetic Theory, and the Gas Laws 14 Heat and Heat Transfer Methods 15 Thermodynamics 16 Oscillatory Motion and Waves 17 Physics of Hearing 18 Electric Charge and Electric Field 19 Electric Potential and Electric Field 20 Electric Current, Resistance, and Ohm's Law 21 Circuits and DC Instruments 22 Magnetism 23 Electromagnetic Induction, AC Circuits, and Electrical Technologies 24 Electromagnetic Waves 25 Geometric Optics 26 Vision and Optical Instruments 27 Wave Optics 28 Special Relativity 29 Quantum Physics 30 Atomic Physics 31 Radioactivity and Nuclear Physics 32 Medical Applications of Nuclear Physics 33 Particle Physics 34 Frontiers of Physics A Atomic Masses B Selected Radioactive Isotopes C Useful Information D Glossary of Key Symbols and Notation Index Library College Physics ContentsPreface 1 Introduction: The Nature of Science and Physics 2 Kinematics 3 Two-Dimensional Kinematics 4 Dynamics: Force and Newton's Laws of Motion 5 Further Applications of Newton's Laws: Friction, Drag, and Elasticity 6 Uniform Circular Motion and Gravitation 7 Work, Energy, and Energy Resources 8 Linear Momentum and Collisions 9 Statics and Torque 10 Rotational Motion and Angular Momentum 11 Fluid Statics 12 Fluid Dynamics and Its Biological and Medical Applications 13 Temperature, Kinetic Theory, and the Gas Laws 14 Heat and Heat Transfer Methods 15 Thermodynamics 16 Oscillatory Motion and Waves 17 Physics of Hearing 18 Electric Charge and Electric Field 19 Electric Potential and Electric Field 20 Electric Current, Resistance, and Ohm's Law 21 Circuits and DC Instruments 22 Magnetism 23 Electromagnetic Induction, AC Circuits, and Electrical Technologies 24 Electromagnetic Waves 25 Geometric Optics 26 Vision and Optical Instruments 27 Wave Optics 28 Special Relativity 29 Quantum Physics 30 Atomic Physics 31 Radioactivity and Nuclear Physics 32 Medical Applications of Nuclear Physics 33 Particle Physics 34 Frontiers of Physics A Atomic Masses B Selected Radioactive Isotopes C Useful Information D Glossary of Key Symbols and Notation Index
capacitance amount of charge stored per unit volt
capacitor a device that stores electric charge
defibrillator a machine used to provide an electrical shock to a heart attack victim's heart in order to restore the heart's normal rhythmic pattern
dielectric an insulating material
dielectric strength the maximum electric field above which an insulating material begins to break down and conduct
electric potential
potential energy per unit charge
electron volt
the energy given to a fundamental charge accelerated through a potential difference of one volt
equipotential line a line along which the electric potential is constant
grounding fixing a conductor at zero volts by connecting it to the earth or ground
mechanical energy
sum of the kinetic energy and potential energy of a system; this sum is a constant
parallel plate capacitor two identical conducting plates separated by a distance
polar molecule a molecule with inherent separation of charge
potential difference (or voltage)
change in potential energy of a charge moved from one point to another, divided by the charge; units of potential difference are joules per coulomb, known as volt
scalar
physical quantity with magnitude but no direction
vector
physical quantity with both magnitude and direction
Glossary · College Physics · Physics Playground 2.6
2.6
Problem-Solving Basics for One-Dimensional Kinematics
Problem-Solving Basics for One-Dimensional Kinematics
Glossary
Glossary
4.6
4.6
Problem-Solving Strategies
Problem-Solving Strategies
Problems & Exercises
Problems & Exercises
6.6
6.6
Satellites and Kepler’s Laws: An Argument for Simplicity
Satellites and Kepler’s Laws: An Argument for Simplicity
7.6
7.6
Conservation of Energy
Conservation of Energy
8.6
8.6
Collisions of Point Masses in Two Dimensions
Collisions of Point Masses in Two Dimensions
9.6
9.6
Forces and Torques in Muscles and Joints
Forces and Torques in Muscles and Joints
10.6
10.6
Collisions of Extended Bodies in Two Dimensions
Collisions of Extended Bodies in Two Dimensions
12.6
12.6
Motion of an Object in a Viscous Fluid
Motion of an Object in a Viscous Fluid
13.6
13.6
Humidity, Evaporation, and Boiling
Humidity, Evaporation, and Boiling
Convection
Convection
16.6
16.6
Uniform Circular Motion and Simple Harmonic Motion
Uniform Circular Motion and Simple Harmonic Motion
17.6
17.6
Hearing
Hearing
18.6
18.6
Electric Forces in Biology
Electric Forces in Biology
19.6
19.6
Capacitors in Series and Parallel
Capacitors in Series and Parallel
20.6
20.6
Electric Hazards and the Human Body
Electric Hazards and the Human Body
21.6
21.6
DC Circuits Containing Resistors and Capacitors
DC Circuits Containing Resistors and Capacitors
22.6
22.6
The Hall Effect
The Hall Effect
23.6
23.6
Back Emf
Back Emf
Section Summary
Section Summary
Image Formation by Lenses
Image Formation by Lenses
27.6
27.6
Limits of Resolution: The Rayleigh Criterion
Limits of Resolution: The Rayleigh Criterion
Relativistic Energy
Relativistic Energy
29.6
29.6
The Wave Nature of Matter
The Wave Nature of Matter
30.6
30.6
The Wave Nature of Matter Causes Quantization
The Wave Nature of Matter Causes Quantization
31.6
31.6
Binding Energy
Binding Energy
32.6
32.6
Fission
Fission
33.6
33.6
GUTs: The Unification of Forces
GUTs: The Unification of Forces
34.6
34.6
High-temperature Superconductors
High-temperature Superconductors
College Physics by OpenStax (Rice University), licensed under CC BY 4.0 . Free to read at openstax.org . We changed the layout and left out notes meant only for teachers. OpenStax doesn't endorse this site.