Department of Physics and Astronomy

Astronomy

AstroEDU

Astronomy (OpenStax)

This OpenStax astronomy text has been positively-reviewed and has been successfully adopted by other faculty. It covers introductory concepts in astronomy, from astronomical instruments to the evolution of galaxies.

Includes: Instructor resources, student resources, applications, summaries, exercises, solutions, group activities

Licence: CC BY 4.0

Reviews: Available through the Open Textbook Library

Stellarium

Licence: GNU General Public Licence

Physics

All Things Flow: Fluid Mechanics for the Natural Sciences

This book began as lecture notes for an Oregon State University course in fluid mechanics, designed for beginning graduate students in physical oceanography. Because of its fundamental nature, this course is often taken by students outside physical oceanography, e.g., atmospheric science, civil engineering, physics and mathematics.

Includes: Exercises

Licence: CC BY-NC 4.0

Applications of Maxwell’s Equations

This book was developed at Simon Fraser University for an upper-level physics course. Along with electricity and magnetism, it devotes a chapter to ferromagnets.

Includes: Problems and answers

Licence: CC BY

Body Physics: Motion to Metabolism

This text covers introductory biophysics concepts, including body forces, body heat, and body composition measurement.

Includes: Summaries, exercises, solutions, applications, and examples.

Licence: CC BY-NC-SA

Reviews: Available through the Open Textbook Library

College Physics (OpenStax)

This introductory, algebra-based, two-semester college OpenStax physics book is grounded with real-world examples, illustrations, and explanations to help students grasp key, fundamental physics concepts.

Includes: Learning objectives, concept questions, links to labs, simulations

Licence: CC BY 4.0

Reviews: Available through the Open Textbook Library

Introductory Physics: Building Models to Describe Our World (LibreTexts)

This is an open ACCESS textbook for calculus-based introductory physics courses. The textbook is specifically intended for a flipped-classroom approach, wherein students complete readings at home and the material is then discussed in class.

Includes: Reinforcement activities, key terms and concepts

Licence: CC BY-SA

Physics: High School (OpenStax)

This Physics resource was developed under the guidance and support of experienced high school teachers and subject matter experts. It is presented here in multiple formats: PDF, online, and low-cost print. Beginning with an introduction to physics and scientific processes and followed by chapters focused on motion, mechanics, thermodynamics, waves, and light, this book incorporates a variety of tools to engage and inspire students. Hands-on labs, worked examples, and highlights of how physics is applicable everywhere in the natural world are embedded throughout the book, and each chapter incorporates a variety of assessment types such as practice problems, performance tasks, and traditional multiple choice items. Additional instructor resources are included as well, including direct instruction presentations and a solutions manual (Description from resource).

Includes: labs, worked examples, practice problems, assessments, instructor resources

Licence: CC BY 4.0

Physics (Lumen Learning)

This Lumen Learning covers all of the concepts of first-year physics with a balance of application and theory.

Includes: Problem-solving guides, examples, videos, applications, problems, selected solutions, summaries

Licence: CC BY 4.0, unless otherwise noted.

Relativity Lite: A Pictorial Translation of Einstein’s Theories of Motion and Gravity

Relativity Lite translates the mathematical equations conventional relativity texts rely upon into pictures that are readily understood and contain within them the mathematical essentials.

Licence: CC BY-NC

Spiral Physics (LibreTexts)

Spiral Physics is a research-based introductory physics curriculum developed at Monroe Community College. It integrates text and workbook activities in a modular fashion, and arranges topics so that students receive repeated exposure to concepts with increased complexity.

Includes: Activities

Licence: CC BY-NC-SA

University Physics I: Classical Mechanics

This is a “minimalist” textbook for a first semester of university, calculus-based physics, covering classical mechanics (including one chapter on mechanical waves, but excluding fluids), plus a brief introduction to thermodynamics.

Includes: Summaries, examples, problems

Licence: CC BY-NC

Reviews: Available through the Open Textbook Library

University Physics Volume 1

University Physics: OpenStax was developed by professors of physics and has been successfully adopted. It emphasizes the connection between application and theory. Volume 1 covers mechanics, waves and acoustics.

Includes: Instructor resources, student resources, examples, exercises, solutions, summaries, simulations

Licence: CC BY

Reviews: Available through the Open Textbook Library

University Physics Volume 2

University Physics: OpenStax was developed by professors of physics and has been successfully adopted. It emphasizes the connection between application and theory. Volume 2 covers thermodynamics, electricity and magnetism.

Includes: Instructor resources, student resources, examples, exercises, solutions, summaries, simulations

Licence: CC BY

Reviews: Available through the Open Textbook Library

University Physics Volume 3

University Physics: OpenStax was developed by professors of physics and has been successfully adopted. It emphasizes the connection between application and theory. Volume 3 covers optics, modern physics.

Includes: Instructor resources, student resources, examples, exercises, solutions, summaries, simulations

Licence: CC BY

Reviews: Available through the Open Textbook Library