Discover Physics

Since birth, you've wanted to discover things. You started out by putting every available object in your mouth. Later you began asking the grownups all those "why" questions. None of this makes you unique — humans are naturally curious animals. What's unusual is that you've decided to take a physics course. There are easier ways to satisfy a science requirement, so evidently, you're one of those uncommon people who has retained the habit of curiosity into adulthood, and you're willing to tackle a subject that requires sustained intellectual effort. Bravo! Contents: The Rules of the Rules A Preview of Noether's Theorem 1.3 What Are The Symmetries? Lab 1a: Scaling The Ray Model of Light Rays Don't Rust Time-Reversal Symmetry The Speed of Light Reflection Lab 2a: Time-Reversal and Reflection Lab 2b: Models of Light Lab 2c: The Speed of Light in Matter Real and Virtual Images Angular Magnification Lab 3a: Images Lab 3b: A Real Image Lab 3c: Lenses Lab 3d: The Telescope Conservation of Mass Conservation of Energy Newton's Law of Gravity Noether's Theorem for Energy Equivalence of Mass and Energy Lab 4a: Conservation Laws Lab 4b: Conservation of Energy Conservation of Momentum Translation Symmetry The Strong Principle of Inertia Momentum Lab 5a: Interactions Lab 5b: Frames of Reference Lab 5c: Conservation of Momentum Lab 5d: Conservation of Angular Momentum. The Principle of Relativity Distortion of Time and Space Combination of velocities Equivalence of mass and energy Electricity and Magnetism Electrical Interactions Newton's quest Charge and electric field Circuits Voltage, Resistance Electromagnetism Magnetic interactions Relativity requires magnetism Magnetic fields, Electromagnetic signals What's Left? Lab 7a: Charge Lab 7b: Electrical Measurements Lab 7c: Is Charge Conserved? Lab 7d: Circuits Lab 7e: Electric Fields Lab 7f: Magnetic Fields Lab 7g: Induction Lab 7h: Light Waves Lab 7i: Electron Waves