College Physics
Study College Physics with study guides, quizzes, and flashcards covering Newton's laws, energy, and electromagnetism.
Topics
Acceleration
Master the full picture of acceleration — from Δv/Δt and kinematic equations to free fall, velocity-time graphs, and why direction changes count as acceleration. Covers average vs. instantaneous acceleration and all four 1D motion equations.
Angular Momentum
Master the rotational analog of linear momentum by working through L = Iω, net torque, and conservation of angular momentum — including how changing moment of inertia affects spin rate and how the right-hand rule determines direction.
Bernoulli’s Equation
Master the relationship between fluid speed, pressure, and height using Bernoulli's equation (P + ½ρv² + ρgh = constant), the continuity equation, and Torricelli's theorem — plus the key assumptions that define when the equation applies.
Buoyancy and Archimedes’ Principle
Unpack the mechanics of buoyancy by working through Archimedes' Principle, fluid displacement, and the equation F_b = ρ_fluid × V_displaced × g. This pack covers floating vs. sinking conditions, apparent weight, and how displaced volume drives every buoyancy calculation.
Centripetal Force
Master the mechanics of circular motion by working through centripetal force, acceleration, and the formula F_c = mv²/r. Learn how friction, tension, and gravity each play the centripetal role — and why centrifugal force is just a fictitious effect of a rotating frame.
Conservation of Energy
Master the law of conservation of energy by working through kinetic and potential energy (KE = ½mv², PE = mgh), the work-energy theorem, and the role of nonconservative forces like friction.
Conservation of Momentum
Master the law of conservation of momentum by working through elastic and inelastic collisions, impulse-momentum relationships, and Newton's third law as the foundation of momentum transfer in isolated systems.
Constant-Acceleration Motion Equations
Master the four kinematic equations — v = v₀ + at, x = v₀t + ½at², x = v̄t, and v² = v₀² + 2ax — and learn to identify which variables are known so you can solve for displacement, velocity, or time with confidence, including free-fall problems using g ≈ 9.8 m/s².
Coulomb’s Law
Master the electrostatic force law with coverage of F = k|q₁q₂|/r², Coulomb's constant, attractive vs. repulsive interactions, and the superposition principle for calculating net forces from multiple point charges.
Doppler Effect and Sonic Booms
Unpack the physics behind frequency shifts and shockwaves — from the Doppler equation and sign conventions to Mach numbers, Mach cone geometry, and the pressure discontinuity that creates a sonic boom.
Electric Current
Master the fundamentals of electric current — from charge flow rates and conventional vs. electron flow direction to Ohm's Law (I = V/R) and resistance. Covers series and parallel circuits, resistivity, and how voltage drives current through conductors.
Electric Fields
Master the core principles of electric fields — from Coulomb's law and point charge fields (E = kQ/r²) to superposition, parallel plate configurations, and the relationship between field strength and electric potential.
Electric Potential Energy and Potential Difference
Unpack the relationship between electric potential energy, voltage, and charge movement — covering ΔV = W/q, equipotential surfaces, the electron volt, and how field strength links to potential difference via ΔV = −Ed.
Entropy and the Second Law of Thermodynamics
Unpack the Second Law of Thermodynamics by mastering entropy, microstates, and the Carnot efficiency formula η = 1 − (T_cold / T_hot). Covers spontaneous processes, ΔS = Q_rev / T, and why heat engines always lose energy as waste heat.
Faraday’s Law and Lenz’s Law
Master the relationship between changing magnetic flux and induced EMF through Faraday's Law (EMF = −NdΦ_B/dt) and Lenz's Law, which explains why induced currents oppose flux changes. Covers multi-turn coils, eddy currents, magnetic braking, and all three ways flux can change.
First Law of Thermodynamics
Master the First Law of Thermodynamics by working through ΔU = Q − W, internal energy as a state function, and how heat and work transfer across system boundaries. Covers isothermal, adiabatic, isobaric, and isochoric processes and energy conservation applied to expanding gases.
Forces and Newton’s First Law
Master the fundamentals of force, inertia, and Newton's First Law — including vector properties of forces, mechanical equilibrium, and how mass determines an object's resistance to changes in motion.
Free Fall and Falling Objects
Master the mechanics of free fall by working through gravitational acceleration, kinematic equations, and sign conventions for objects in vertical motion. Covers key concepts like peak-velocity zero, g = 9.8 m/s², and Galileo's mass-independence principle.
Friction
Break down the forces behind static and kinetic friction, including how to apply μs and μk to find maximum static friction and sliding resistance. See why more force starts motion than sustains it, and how surface materials — not contact area — determine friction coefficients.
Heat and Thermal Energy
Master the distinctions between heat, thermal energy, and temperature as you work through specific heat capacity, conduction, convection, radiation, latent heat, and the first law of thermodynamics — everything you need for college-level thermal physics.
Ideal Gas Law
Master the ideal gas law — PV = nRT — by working through pressure, volume, temperature, and mole relationships, the Boltzmann form PV = NkT, and how Boyle's, Charles's, and Avogadro's Laws unify into one equation.
Impulse
Master the impulse-momentum theorem by connecting net force, contact time, and momentum change (J = FΔt = mΔv). This pack covers vector momentum, force-time tradeoffs, and real-world safety applications like airbags and crumple zones.
Kinetic Energy and the Work-Energy Theorem
Master the relationship between motion and energy by working through KE = ½mv², the Work-Energy Theorem (W_net = ΔKE), and how net force and displacement interact. See why doubling speed quadruples kinetic energy — and when a force does zero work at all.
Linear Momentum and Force
Master the core principles of linear momentum — from p = mv and Newton's Second Law restated as F = Δp/Δt to impulse-momentum theorem and conservation of momentum in collisions. Ideal for building a solid foundation in force, motion, and collision analysis.
Magnetic Fields and Field Lines
Trace the invisible architecture of magnetic fields, from how line density and direction map field strength to why lines always form closed loops between poles. Master the tesla and gauss units, the no-crossing rule, and how magnetic fields differ fundamentally from electric fields.
Mechanical Waves
Master the mechanics of wave motion — from transverse and longitudinal particle behavior to v = fλ, wave speed in different media, interference, and standing waves with nodes and antinodes — everything you need for college-level mechanical waves.
Newton’s Second Law and Systems
Master the relationship between net force, mass, and acceleration as you work through F_net = ma, free body diagrams, internal vs. external forces, and component-based problem-solving for single objects and multi-body systems.
Newton’s Third Law and Force Pairs
Unpack the mechanics of Newton's Third Law by examining action-reaction force pairs, why they never cancel, and how to distinguish them from balanced forces — so you can confidently apply F = ma to any object in motion or at rest.
Normal Force, Tension, and Free-Body Diagrams
Break down normal force, tension, and free-body diagrams with clear coverage of contact forces, massless rope tension, and Newton's second law applied component by component.
Ohm’s Law and Simple Circuits
Master the core relationships behind Ohm's Law — including I = V/R, resistivity, and power formulas like P = I²R — as you work through series and parallel circuits and compare ohmic versus non-ohmic materials.
Photoelectric Effect
Unpack Einstein's 1905 explanation of the photoelectric effect, from photon energy (E = hf) and work functions to why frequency — not intensity — determines electron ejection and maximum kinetic energy, including stopping voltage and wave-particle duality.
Power
Master the core equations of power — P = W/t and P = Fv — alongside watts, kilowatts, and kilowatt-hours, plus efficiency and the work-energy theorem. Ideal if you need to analyze engines, motors, or real-world energy transfer in college physics.
Pressure in Fluids
Master the core principles governing fluid behavior, from Pascal's Law and hydraulic systems to gauge vs. absolute pressure using P = ρgh. Covers static pressure, atmospheric pressure, and Archimedes' buoyancy — everything you need for fluid statics.
Projectile Motion
Break down projectile motion by analyzing horizontal and vertical components independently, using kinematic equations to track velocity, range, and time of flight.
Radiation
Unpack the physics of radiation from electromagnetic heat transfer across a vacuum to nuclear decay modes — covering the Stefan-Boltzmann law, emissivity, and alpha, beta, and gamma decay in one focused pack.
Rotational Dynamics and Moment of Inertia
Master the core equations governing rotational motion — from torque (τ = rF sin θ) and moment of inertia to τ_net = Iα and the parallel axis theorem. This pack breaks down how mass distribution, geometry, and angular acceleration connect across solid disks, rings, and beyond.
Rotational Equilibrium and Torque
Master the mechanics of rotational equilibrium by working through torque calculations, lever arm geometry, and the second condition for equilibrium. This pack covers net torque, clockwise vs. counterclockwise balance, and strategic pivot point selection to simplify real problem-solving.
Simple Harmonic Motion
Master the mechanics of oscillation by working through Hooke's Law, sinusoidal motion, and period formulas for spring-mass systems and simple pendulums. See how kinetic and potential energy trade off continuously while total mechanical energy stays constant.
Sound Waves
Unpack the physics of longitudinal waves — from compression and rarefaction to the speed of sound in different media, pitch, decibels, the Doppler effect, and wave behaviors like interference and diffraction.
Speed and Velocity
Master the distinction between speed and velocity — scalar vs. vector, distance vs. displacement, and why direction changes velocity even at constant speed. Covers average and instantaneous values, plus why net displacement determines whether average velocity is zero.
Temperature and Thermal Equilibrium
Grasp the core principles behind temperature, thermal equilibrium, and heat flow — including the Zeroth Law, absolute zero, and how Kelvin, Celsius, and Fahrenheit scales compare — so you can confidently tackle thermodynamics problems at the college level.
The Wave Nature of Matter Causes Quantization
Unpack de Broglie's 1924 matter-wave hypothesis — λ = h/mv — and trace how electron diffraction, Bohr's quantized orbits, and the Davisson-Germer experiment all follow from one principle: stable orbits require whole-number wavelength fits.
Torque on a Current Loop Motors and Meters
Master the mechanics of torque on current loops, from the τ = NIAB sin θ equation and magnetic dipole moment to how DC motors use split-ring commutators and galvanometers balance spring torque to measure current.
Universal Gravitation
Master Newton's Law of Universal Gravitation — from the F = G(m₁m₂)/r² formula and the inverse-square relationship to surface gravity, orbital motion, and how one law unifies falling objects with planetary orbits.
Vectors, Scalars, and Coordinate Systems
Master the distinction between scalars and vectors — from displacement and force to speed and mass — and learn how Cartesian coordinate systems let you decompose vectors into x- and y-components using sine, cosine, and the Pythagorean theorem.
Work and Mechanical Energy
Master the core principles behind W = Fd cosθ, the work-energy theorem, and conservation of mechanical energy — including how kinetic and potential energy interact and what happens when friction enters the system.