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How to Succeed in Physics Guide
Lumen Learning
Instructor Resources
Introduction to Science and the Realm of Physics, Physical Quantities, and Units
Physics: An Introduction
Physical Quantities and Units
Accuracy, Precision, and Significant Figures
Approximation
Introduction to Fluid Statics
What Is a Fluid?
Density
Pressure
Variation of Pressure with Depth in a Fluid
Pascal’s Principle
Gauge Pressure, Absolute Pressure, and Pressure Measurement
Archimedes’ Principle
Video: Buoyancy
Cohesion and Adhesion in Liquids: Surface Tension and Capillary Action
Pressures in the Body
Introduction to Temperature, Kinetic Theory, and the Gas Laws
Temperature
Thermal Expansion of Solids and Liquids
The Ideal Gas Law
Kinetic Theory: Atomic and Molecular Explanation of Pressure and Temperature
Phase Changes
Video: Phase Changes
Humidity, Evaporation, and Boiling
Introduction to Heat and Heat Transfer Methods
Heat
Temperature Change and Heat Capacity
Phase Change and Latent Heat
Heat Transfer Methods
Video: Heat Transfer
Conduction
Convection
Radiation
Introduction to Thermodynamics
The First Law of Thermodynamics
The First Law of Thermodynamics and Some Simple Processes
Introduction to the Second Law of Thermodynamics: Heat Engines and Their Efficiency
Carnot’s Perfect Heat Engine: The Second Law of Thermodynamics Restated
Applications of Thermodynamics: Heat Pumps and Refrigerators
Entropy and the Second Law of Thermodynamics: Disorder and the Unavailability of Energy
Statistical Interpretation of Entropy and the Second Law of Thermodynamics: The Underlying Explanation
Introduction to Oscillatory Motion and Waves
Hooke’s Law: Stress and Strain Revisited
Period and Frequency in Oscillations
Simple Harmonic Motion: A Special Periodic Motion
Video: Harmonic Motion
The Simple Pendulum
Energy and the Simple Harmonic Oscillator
Uniform Circular Motion and Simple Harmonic Motion
Damped Harmonic Motion
Forced Oscillations and Resonance
Waves
Superposition and Interference
Energy in Waves: Intensity
Introduction to the Physics of Hearing
Video: Waves and Sound
Sound
Speed of Sound, Frequency, and Wavelength
Sound Intensity and Sound Level
Doppler Effect and Sonic Booms
Sound Interference and Resonance: Standing Waves in Air Columns
Hearing
Ultrasound
Introduction to Electromagnetic Waves
Maxwell’s Equations: Electromagnetic Waves Predicted and Observed
Production of Electromagnetic Waves
The Electromagnetic Spectrum
Energy in Electromagnetic Waves
Introduction to Geometric Optics
The Ray Aspect of Light
The Law of Reflection
The Law of Refraction
Total Internal Reflection
Dispersion: The Rainbow and Prisms
Image Formation by Lenses
Image Formation by Mirrors
Introduction to Vision and Optical Instruments
Video: Refraction
Physics of the Eye
Telescopes
Vision Correction
Microscopes
Color and Color Vision
Aberrations
Introduction to Wave Optics
The Wave Aspect of Light: Interference
Huygens’s Principle: Diffraction
Young’s Double Slit Experiment
Multiple Slit Diffraction
Single Slit Diffraction
Limits of Resolution: The Rayleigh Criterion
Thin Film Interference
Polarization
*Extended Topic* Microscopy Enhanced by the Wave Characteristics of Light
Appendix A. Useful Information
Appendix B. Glossary of Key Symbols and Notation
Version History
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Fundamentals of Heat, Light & Sound Copyright © 2021 by NSCC & Lumen/OpenStax is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, except where otherwise noted.