Science and Technology      |     Agriculture     |     Astronomy     |     Chemistry     |     Computing and Information Science     |     Earth Science     |     Engineering     |     Forensics     |     General Science     |     History of Science and Technology     |     Life Sciences     |     Mathematics     |     Nanotechnology

Physics

Get your head around the field of physics, which is the science that deals with matter and energy and the interactions between them. Physics, the foundation of all other sciences, is an attempt to provide a comprehensive rational explanation of the structure and workings of the universe.

The field of physics is commonly subdivided into two large, main categories: classical and modern physics. The dividing line between these two categories was drawn in the early 1900s, when a number of revolutionary new concepts about the nature of matter were proposed. Included among these were Albert Einstein’s theories of general and special relativity, Max Planck’s concept of the quantum, Werner Heisenberg’s principle of indeterminacy, and the concept of the equivalence of matter and energy.

In general, classical physics deals with topics on the macroscopic scale—that is, on a scale that can be studied with the largely unaided five human senses. Modern physics, in contrast, concerns the nature and behavior of particles and energy at the submicroscopic level. As it happens, the laws of classical physics are generally inapplicable or applicable only as approximations to the laws of modern physics.

Like other fields of science, physics is commonly subdivided into a number of more specific fields of research. In classical physics, those fields include mechanics, thermodynamics, sound, light and optics, and electricity and magnetism. In modern physics, some major subdivisions include atomic, nuclear, and particle physics, and interdisciplinary fields like astrophysics.

Contact my rep                   Find resources at my library

Physics Resources

Gale provides scholarly physics resources, including databasesprimary source archives, and eBooks.

Databases

Gale databases offer researchers or teachers access to credible, up-to-date physics publications for research or teaching.

Primary Source Archives

Gale Primary Sources offers physics journals and physics collections that provide researchers with firsthand content.

Gale eBooks

Gale offers a variety of eBooks covering a wide range of topics, including high-energy physics, quantum physics, and more. Users can add Gale eBooks to a customized collection and cross-search to pinpoint relevant content. Workflow tools help users easily share, save, and download content.

  • Beam Dynamics in High Energy Particle Accelerators, 1st Edition

    Beam Dynamics in High Energy Particle Accelerators, 1st Edition

    Imperial College Press | 2014 | ISBN-13: 9781783262786

    Particle accelerators are essential tools for scientific research in fields as diverse as high-energy physics, materials science, and structural biology. They are also widely used in industry and medicine. Producing the optimum design and achieving the best performance for an accelerator depends on a detailed understanding of many (often complex and sometimes subtle) effects that determine the properties and behavior of the particle beam. This book provides an introduction to the concepts underlying accelerator beam line design and analysis, taking an approach that emphasizes the elegance of the subject and leading into the development of a range of powerful techniques for understanding and modeling charged particle beams.

    Contact my sales rep >>

  • Idiot’s Guides: Quantum Physics, 1st Edition

    Idiot’s Guides: Quantum Physics, 1st Edition

    Alpha Books | 2013 | ISBN-13: 9781615643639

    Aimed at the novice, this title skips complicated mathematics and dives right into all the concepts, paradoxes, thought experiments, and implications that make quantum physics so fascinating. All of the basics are covered, with an explanation of quantum versus classical physics, a look at the smallest-known particles, and much more. With detailed explanations and history on scientific concepts, principles, and experiments, this title makes the subject easy without using math but instead exploring implications of the theory that explains subatomic particles and energy.

    Contact my sales rep >>

  • Liquid Chromatography: Fundamentals and Instrumentation, 1st Edition

    Liquid Chromatography: Fundamentals and Instrumentation, 1st Edition

    Elsevier Science | 2013 | ISBN-13: 9780124158672

    A single source of authoritative information on all aspects of the practice of modern liquid chromatography—suitable for advanced students, physics teachers, and professionals working in a laboratory or managerial capacity.

    Contact my sales rep >>

Resources to Boost Your Research

From trending social issues to classic literature, Gale resources have you covered. Explore overviews, statistics, essay topics, and more or log in through your library to find even more content.

Access topics >>