Subject Research Guides   University of West Florida Libraries

Physics

Reference Guides

Information Sources in Physics. 1994. (Ref. QC 21.2 I54 1994)

A bibliographical guide to sources of physics literature arranged by chapters devoted to specific topics. See also Encyclopedia of Physical Sciences and Engineering Information Sources (Ref. Q 158.5 E5 1989), and The Search for Data in the Physical and Chemical Sciences (Ref. QC 5.3 A76 1984).

Information Sources in Science and Technology. 1998. (NetLibrary)

This guide provides introductions to research in all the sciences and physics is comprehensively covered.

Books

Library materials may be identified in the Online Catalog by using author, title, keyword, and subject searches. Books on physics are primarily located in the QC call number area on the third floor. Specific subjects with corresponding call numbers are:

Online books are accessible via NetLibrary. Search this database by keyword (e.g., physics), author, or title.

Indexes and Abstracts

The most frequently used databases in physics are:

INSPEC. 1969- (Elsevier)

INSPEC is the most comprehensive index of physics literature. It includes coverage of over 3,400 scientific and technical journals, 2,000 conference proceedings, as well as numerous books, reports, and dissertations. Inspec also indexes materials in electrical engineering, electronics, communications, control engineering, computers and computing, and information technology.

Physics Abstracts. 1914-1995 (Ref. QC 1 P432)

An international index to periodicals, reports, books, dissertations, patents, and conference papers. Includes separate indexes for authors, subjects, bibliographies, books, patents, reports, and conferences.

Applied Science and Technology Index. 1983- (WilsonWeb)

A multidisciplinary science database which indexes international journals and conferences which include many in the field of physics. Also available in print format 1914-1957as Industrial Arts Index, and 1958-1982 as Applied Science and Technology Index (Ref. T 1 A53).

Cambridge Scientific Abstracts.  (Cambridge Scientific Abstracts)

This database service provides access to over 70 Cambridge Scientific databases arranged under 10 broad categories. Searches may be conducted by database categories or within selected databases.

Wiley Interscience. 1983- (Wiley)

Over 1,000 journals, major reference works, online books, and laboratory manuals are indexed in this comprehensive science database. Physics is well covered in this source.

DIALOG and DATASTAR

Dialog and Datastar databases are available as dial-up services. Consult a reference librarian for information about and access to SPIN, a file providing indexing to the American Institute of Physics journals; PASCAL, a multidisciplinary science database; and, SciSearch, which provides indexing to the international literature of science and technology and includes indexing by cited author.

 

Dictionaries

A Concise Dictionary of Physics. 1990. (Ref. QC 5 C56 1990)

Contains brief to medium-length definitions of terms used in physics as well as related terms from astronomy, chemistry and math.

Dictionary of Geophysics, Astrophysics, and Astronomy. 2001. (Ref. QB 14 D53 2001)

Contains over 4,000 definitions of terminology in astronomy, astrophysics, cosmology, relativity, geophysics, meteorology, and oceanography.

Dictionary of Physics. 1999. (Ref. QC 5 C427 1999)

An easy to use dictionary for the student that includes illustrations and cross-references.

McGraw Hill Dictionary of Physics. 2003. (Ref. QC 5 M424 2003)

Over 11,000 entries on all aspects of physics are defined in this concise dictionary. It includes synonyms, acronyms, and abbreviations.

Encyclopedias

The Astronomy and Astrophysics Encyclopedia. 1992. (Ref. QB 14 A873 1991)

Contains over 400 signed articles summarizing the current knowledge of the solar system and astrophysics. Each article contains a bibliography and cross-references.

Encyclopedia of Lasers and Optical Technology. 1991. (Ref. TA 1509 E53 1991)

A compendium of articles on background data concerning lasers and optics. Includes references.

Encyclopedia of Modern Physics. 1990. (Ref. QC 5 E544 1990)

An illustrated survey of theoretical and applied physics with articles written by experts. Includes references.

The Encyclopedia of Physics. 2005. (Ref. QC 5 E545 2005) & FWB

Contains signed articles which define and explain the important concepts of physics. References are appended at the end of each article which contain reading-level indicators. See also Concise Encyclopedia of Solid State Physics (Ref. QC 176 A3 C66 1983 ).

Encyclopedia of the Solar System. 1999. (Ref. QB 501 E53 1993)

This illustrated encyclopedia consists of 40 chapters that follow the physical arrangement of the solar system. Each chapter is written by an expert in the field.

Encyclopedia of the Spectroscopy and Spectometry. 2000. (Ref. QC 450.3 E53 2000)

Lengthy, signed descriptions of the history, theory, methods, and applications of spectroscopy and spectometry. Includes coverage of atomic, electronic, high energy, magnetic, mass, and vibrational spectroscopy and spectrometery.

Encyclopedia of Water. 2003. (Ref. GB 655 N48 2003)

This illustrated encyclopedia provides tables, charts, biographies, graphs, and statistics all aspects of water. Includes an extensive "Selected Bibliography."/dd>

Encyclopedia of Weather and Climate. 2002. (Ref. QC 854 A45 2002)

A two volume set that provides 3,000 concise definitions and descriptions of weather phenomena, measurements, and classification systems.

History of Astronomy: An Encyclopedia. 1997. (Ref. QB 15 H624 1997)

Essays on the historical evolution of astronomy are provided in this source which includes concise bibliographical references at the conclusion of each essay.

MacMillan Encyclopedia of Physics. 4 vols. 1996. (Ref. QC 5 M15 1996)

The key topics in physics are described in medium-length essays in this general physics encyclopedia which includes biographical information. Each essay concludes with a bibliography. A glossary of terms is appended.

Q is for Quantum. 1998. (Ref. QC 793.2 G747 1998)

Subtitled: "An Encyclopedia of Particle Physics." Contains essays on the physical aspects of the "microworld." Includes brief biographies, a bibliography, and a Timeline of key developments in quantum physics.

Handbooks

Concise Handbook of Mathematics and Physics. 1997. (Ref. QC 61 A4813 1997)

This source explains the major concepts and notions of mathematics and physics with extensive illustrations, formulas and diagrams.

Handbook of Chemistry and Physics. Annual. (Ref. QD 65 H3) & FWB.

This standard handbook, published by CRC, provides extensive ready-reference data in chemistry and physics in tabular format.

Handbook of Optics. 4 vols. 1995. (Ref. QC 369 H35 1995)

Contents: Vol. 1.-"Fundamentals, Techniques, and Design;" Vol. 2-"Devices, Measurements and Properties;" Vol. 3-"Classical Optics;" and Vol. 4-"Fiber Optics and Nonlinear Optics."

Handbook of Physical Quantities. 1997. (Ref. QC 61 H36 1997)

The basic elements of the physical quantities of matter are described through the use of text, graphs, charts, tabular data, and bibliographical references in this easy-to-use handbook.

Handbook of Physics. 2001. (Ref. QC 61 H37 2001)

Concepts, formulas, rules, and theorems of physics are introduced in this handbook. All areas of physics including mechanics, vibration and waves, electricity, thermodynamics, and quantum physics are covered.

International Critical Tables of Numerical Data, Physics, Chemistry and Technology. 9th Rev. ed. 1933. (Ref. Q 199 N32)

A large collection of critical tables based largely on original research, now considered somewhat dated.

Knovel Critical Tables. 2003.

"This important, interactive Knovel reference contains tables of physical, solvent, and thermodynamic properties. The physical property tables alone include over 13,000 inorganic and organic compounds, and pure substances. The solvent property tables have 385 solvents, and the thermodynamic property tables have 500 compounds."

NIST-JANAF Thermochemical Tables. 2 vols.  1998. (Ref. QD 511 N57 1998)

A compilation of tabular data providing critically evaluated physical and chemical property data with documented original sources.

The Physics Handbook. 1998. (Ref. QC 61 P65 1998)

Subtitled: "Fundamentals and Key Equations." See also A Physicist's Desk Reference (Ref. QC 61 P49 1989).

Physics Quick Reference Guide. 1996. (Ref. QC 61 C65 1996).

Actual data on physical quantities, system of units, symbols, constants, formulary, statistics, and properties of matter are contained in this handbook.

Smithsonian Physical Tables. 9th Rev. ed. 2003.

"Originally published by Smithsonian Institution Press, this classic reference source comprises 901 tables of general interest to scientists and engineers, and of particular interest to those involved with physics in its larger sense. All entries in the index are hyperlinked to their page numbers."

Tables of Physical and Chemical Constants. 1995. (Ref. QC 61 K3 1995)

An extensive compilation of tables of physical and chemical measurements for the scientist. See also Handbook of Physical Calculations (Ref. QC 61 T85),The MacMillan Dictionary of Measurement (Ref. QC 82 D37 1994), and Quantities and Units of Measurement (Ref. QC 39 D73 1983).

Thermodynamic Properties of Gases. 1988. (Ref. QC 165.5 R5813 1988)

Includes notations, equations, and thermal diagrams in addition to extensive tables of the thermodynamic properties of gases.

Biographical Sources

Biographical Encyclopedia of Scientists. 2 vols. 1994. (Ref. Q 141 B53 1994)

Biographical entries of important scientists from the earliest times to the present are presented in this work which includes the titles of each subject's major publications.

Great Physicists: The Life and Times of Leading Physicists from Galileo to Hawking. 2001. (Ref. QC 15 C76 2001)

Chronologically arranged biographies that include information about the lives, contributions and theories of physicists. A timeline, glossary, index, and list of readings are contained in the source.

The Nobel Prize Winners: Physics. 3 vols. 1989. (Ref. QC 25 N63 1989)

A chronologically arranged source of biographical information on each prize recipient since 1901. Includes an introductory essay and time-line listing all Nobel winners in physics. See also Nobel Prize Winners: 1992-1996 Supplement (Ref. AS 911 N9 N59 1992) and Nobel Prize Winners, 1987-1991 Supplement (Ref. AS 911 N9 N59 1987 Suppl.).

Dictionary of Scientific Biography. 16 vols. suppls. 1970- (Ref. Q 141 D5 1981)

A collection of signed articles with bibliographical references concerning the professional lives of deceased scientists from classical antiquity to the present. See also Concise Dictionary of Scientific Biography (Ref. Q 141 C55).

Internet Sites

Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics Library
http://library.ictp.trieste.it

American Institute of Physics
http://www.aip.org/

American Physical Society
http://www.aps.org/

College Physics for Students of Biology and Chemistry
http://www.rwc.uc.edu/koehler/biophys/text.html

Contributions of 20th Century Women to Physics
http://www.physics.ucla.edu/~cwp/

Easy Physics (Basic Introduction)
http://easyphysics.net

European Organization for Nuclear Research (Particle Physics Centre)
http://public.web.cern.ch/Public/

European Physical Society
http://www.eps.org/

High Energy Physics Information Center
http://www.hep.net/

Laser Interferometer Gravitational Wave Observatory
http://www.ligo.caltech.edu/

Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory:
http://www.llnl.gov

Librarian's Internet Index - Physics
http://www.lii.org/pub/topic/192

Los Alamos ePrint Archives (1992- )
http://xxx.lanl.gov

Nobel Laureates in Physics
http://www.slac.stanford.edu/library/nobel/

Martindale's "Virtual" Physics Center
http://www.martindalecenter.com/GradPhysics.html

Physics.org
http://physics.org

Physics Resources on the Web
http://www.physics.ohio-state.edu/info/physics_resources.php3

Physics 2000
http://www.colorado.edu/physics/2000/index.pl

Physics Web
http://physicsweb.org

PhysLINK
http://www.physlink.com

PhysNet
http://www.phys.vt.edu/PhysNet/

Pilots Web
http://www.pilotsweb.com/principle.htm

Science Directory - Physics
http://www.spacetransportation.org/Physics/index.html

Science.gov Physics
http://www.science.gov/browse/w_129C.htm

Solar Physics
http://science.nasa.gov/ssl/pad/solar/

U.C. Berkeley Physics Lecture Demonstrations
http://www.mip.berkeley.edu/physics/physics.html

Virtual Library: Physics
http://vlib.org/Physics.html

Web Physics
http://webphysics.davidson.edu/WebPhysicsInfo.htm