Science · Physics · 1906

A First Course in Physics

Robert A. Millikan and Henry G. Gale's high-school physics course, for students about 14 and up: measurement, force and motion, fluids, heat, magnetism and electricity, sound, light, and the brand-new discoveries of the electron, X rays and radium. 72 guides cover all 22 chapters, each a 30 to 45 minute session with the right page of the book beside it.

0 of 72 lessons done (saved in this browser) Start Lesson 1 →

Turn this on to see every lesson as a simple checklist: what to get out, what to do and what to say, one line at a time.

How to use it

  • One session at a time. Each guide covers a few of the book's numbered sections (§) and takes 30 to 45 minutes. Three or four sessions a week finishes the book in a school year.
  • Do it, then read it. Nearly every guide has a hands-on activity with ordinary household things: ramps and marbles, a rubber-band spring balance, levers, a thermometer in ice water, bottles, mirrors, a magnifying glass, magnets and an AA-battery circuit. Let your student handle things before the formulas.
  • Safety first. The book describes classroom demonstrations with mercury, acids, high voltage, X rays and radium. The guides mark these "Watch only": describe them, or look up a video of a teacher doing them. For circuits use only AA or AAA batteries, never a wall outlet, and never look at the Sun, even through a lens.
  • Work the problems. Most groups of sections end with Questions and Problems. The book prints no answers; the guides give answers worked out and checked with a calculator, using the book's own tables. Let your student try first, and expect small differences from rounding.
  • Old units and new. The book works in centimeters, grams and seconds (and feet and pounds). The guides add today's SI units (meters, kilograms, newtons, joules, pascals) where it helps.
  • Physics in 1906. The book was written just before the atomic nucleus, relativity and quantum physics. Short "What we know now" notes point out where science has moved on, which is a good lesson in itself.

Chapter 1 Measurement

Units of length, mass and time, the metric system, weighing, and density (§§ 1–19). Lessons 1–2.

  1. 1Why the metric system? Length, mass and timeCh. I, §§ 1–11✓
  2. 2Weighing, and the meaning of densityCh. I, §§ 12–19✓

Chapter 2 Force and Motion

Measuring and adding forces, gravitation and balance, falling bodies, and Newton's three laws (§§ 20–56). Lessons 3–6.

  1. 3Measuring force; adding and resolving forcesCh. II, §§ 20–30✓
  2. 4Gravitation, center of gravity and balanceCh. II, §§ 31–37✓
  3. 5Falling bodies and accelerated motionCh. II, §§ 38–48✓
  4. 6Newton's three laws of motionCh. II, §§ 49–56✓

Chapter 3 Pressure in Liquids

Pressure under water, Pascal's law and the hydraulic press, and Archimedes' principle of floating (§§ 57–80). Lessons 7–9.

  1. 7Pressure under waterCh. III, §§ 57–65✓
  2. 8Pascal's law and the hydraulic pressCh. III, §§ 66–72✓
  3. 9Archimedes' principle: floating and sinkingCh. III, §§ 73–80✓

Chapter 4 Pressure in Air

The weight of air and the barometer, Boyle's law, and siphons, pumps, divers and balloons (§§ 81–112). Lessons 10–12.

  1. 10The weight of air and the barometerCh. IV, §§ 81–91✓
  2. 11Boyle's law and the ocean of airCh. IV, §§ 92–98✓
  3. 12Siphons, pumps, divers and balloonsCh. IV, §§ 99–112✓

Chapter 5 Molecular Motions

The kinetic theory of gases, evaporation and saturated vapor, dew, fog and humidity (§§ 113–150). Lessons 13–15.

  1. 13Molecules in motion: the kinetic theory of gasesCh. V, §§ 113–120✓
  2. 14Evaporation and saturated vaporCh. V, §§ 121–132✓
  3. 15Dew, fog, humidity, and cooling by evaporationCh. V, §§ 133–150✓

Chapter 6 Molecular Forces

Elasticity and Hooke's law, surface tension and capillarity, solutions, crystals and dissolved gases (§§ 151–176). Lessons 16–18.

  1. 16Molecular forces in solids: elasticity and Hooke's lawCh. VI, §§ 151–159✓
  2. 17Molecular forces in liquids: surface tension and capillarityCh. VI, §§ 160–167✓
  3. 18Solutions, crystals, and gases dissolved in waterCh. VI, §§ 168–176✓

Chapter 7 Thermometry; Expansion Coefficients

Thermometers and temperature scales, the gas laws, and the expansion of liquids and solids (§§ 177–201). Lessons 19–21.

  1. 19Thermometers and temperature scalesCh. VII, §§ 177–190✓
  2. 20The gas laws: Charles and Boyle togetherCh. VII, §§ 191–192✓
  3. 21Expansion of liquids and solids; water's strange behaviorCh. VII, §§ 193–201✓

Chapter 8 Work and Mechanical Energy

Work, pulleys, levers and the principle of work in all machines, power and energy (§§ 202–226). Lessons 22–25.

  1. 22Work, and the pulleyCh. VIII, §§ 202–207✓
  2. 23The lever and the law of momentsCh. VIII, §§ 208–211✓
  3. 24The principle of work: wheel and axle, ramp, screw and gearsCh. VIII, §§ 212–218✓
  4. 25Power and energyCh. VIII, §§ 219–226✓

Chapter 9 Work and Heat Energy

Friction and efficiency, Joule and the conservation of energy, specific heat, and heat engines (§§ 227–263). Lessons 26–29.

  1. 26Friction and efficiencyCh. IX, §§ 227–237✓
  2. 27Heat from work: Joule and the conservation of energyCh. IX, §§ 238–248✓
  3. 28Specific heat and the method of mixturesCh. IX, §§ 249–251✓
  4. 29Heat engines: steam, gas and turbinesCh. IX, §§ 252–263✓

Chapter 10 Change of State

Melting and freezing, boiling, freezing mixtures, distillation and refrigeration (§§ 264–290). Lessons 30–32.

  1. 30Melting and freezing: the heat of fusionCh. X, §§ 264–274✓
  2. 31Boiling and the heat of vaporizationCh. X, §§ 275–280✓
  3. 32Freezing mixtures, distillation, and refrigerationCh. X, §§ 281–290✓

Chapter 11 The Transference of Heat

Conduction, convection and radiation, and heating and ventilating a house (§§ 291–304). Lessons 33–34.

  1. 33Heat on the move: conduction and convectionCh. XI, §§ 291–298✓
  2. 34Radiation, and heating and ventilating a houseCh. XI, §§ 299–304✓

Chapter 12 Magnetism

Magnets, poles and fields, the theory of magnetism, and the earth as a magnet (§§ 305–321). Lessons 35–36.

  1. 35Magnets, poles and lines of forceCh. XII, §§ 305–314✓
  2. 36Why magnets work, and the earth as a magnetCh. XII, §§ 315–321✓

Chapter 13 Static Electricity

Charges, conductors and induction, lightning and screens, potential, condensers and electrical machines (§§ 322–350). Lessons 37–39.

  1. 37Static electricity: charges, conductors and inductionCh. XIII, §§ 322–333✓
  2. 38Charges on conductors, points, and lightningCh. XIII, §§ 334–339✓
  3. 39Potential, the volt, condensers and electrical machinesCh. XIII, §§ 340–350✓

Chapter 14 Electricity in Motion

Currents and their magnetic effect, volts, ohms and Ohm's law, series and parallel circuits, and batteries (§§ 351–386). Lessons 40–43.

  1. 40Electric currents and their magnetic effectCh. XIV, §§ 351–358✓
  2. 41Voltage, resistance and Ohm's lawCh. XIV, §§ 359–368✓
  3. 42Internal resistance, series and parallel, and shuntsCh. XIV, §§ 369–374✓
  4. 43Batteries: how cells work and how to connect themCh. XIV, §§ 375–386✓

Chapter 15 Effects of Electrical Currents

Electrolysis and plating, electro-magnets, bells and telegraphs, and the heating effect and electric lights (§§ 387–411). Lessons 44–46.

  1. 44Chemical effects: electrolysis, plating and storage batteriesCh. XV, §§ 387–393✓
  2. 45Coils and electro-magnets: the bell and the telegraphCh. XV, §§ 394–403✓
  3. 46Heating effects: watts, Joule's law and electric lightsCh. XV, §§ 404–411✓

Chapter 16 Induced Currents

Faraday's induction, dynamos, motors, transformers, power lines and the telephone (§§ 412–443). Lessons 47–50.

  1. 47Faraday's discovery: currents made by magnetsCh. XVI, §§ 412–417✓
  2. 48Dynamos: alternating and direct currentCh. XVI, §§ 418–423✓
  3. 49The electric motorCh. XVI, §§ 424–427✓
  4. 50Induction coils, transformers, power lines and the telephoneCh. XVI, §§ 428–443✓

Chapter 17 Nature and Transmission of Sound

Sources and speed of sound, waves and pitch, echoes and resonance, beats and standing waves (§§ 444–470). Lessons 51–54.

  1. 51Where sound comes from and how fast it travelsCh. XVII, §§ 444–447✓
  2. 52The nature of sound: waves, wave length and pitchCh. XVII, §§ 448–458✓
  3. 53Echoes, resonance and sounding-boardsCh. XVII, §§ 459–467✓
  4. 54Interference: beats and standing wavesCh. XVII, §§ 468–470✓

Chapter 18 Properties of Musical Sounds

The musical scale, vibrating strings and overtones, and pipes and wind instruments (§§ 471–494). Lessons 55–57.

  1. 55The physics of the musical scaleCh. XVIII, §§ 471–474✓
  2. 56Strings, overtones, quality and harmonyCh. XVIII, §§ 475–486✓
  3. 57Organ pipes, wind instruments and the phonographCh. XVIII, §§ 487–494✓

Chapter 19 Nature and Propagation of Light

The speed of light, shadows, brightness, reflection and refraction, and the wave nature of light (§§ 495–527). Lessons 58–61.

  1. 58The speed of light, straight-line travel and shadowsCh. XIX, §§ 495–501✓
  2. 59How bright? The inverse square law and photometersCh. XIX, §§ 502–505✓
  3. 60Reflection, refraction and total reflectionCh. XIX, §§ 506–515✓
  4. 61What is light? Waves, interference and polarizationCh. XIX, §§ 516–527✓

Chapter 20 Formation of Images

Images in mirrors and lenses, the lens formula, and cameras, the eye, telescopes and microscopes (§§ 528–564). Lessons 62–65.

  1. 62Images in plane and convex mirrorsCh. XX, §§ 528–537✓
  2. 63Concave mirrors: virtual and real imagesCh. XX, §§ 538–545✓
  3. 64Lenses and the lens formulaCh. XX, §§ 546–551✓
  4. 65Cameras, the eye, magnifiers, telescopes and microscopesCh. XX, §§ 552–564✓

Chapter 21 Color Phenomena

Color and wave length, mixing colors, dispersion and the rainbow, and spectra (§§ 565–586). Lessons 66–68.

  1. 66Color and wave length; mixing colorsCh. XXI, §§ 565–574✓
  2. 67Dispersion and the rainbowCh. XXI, §§ 575–579✓
  3. 68Spectra: what light tells us about the starsCh. XXI, §§ 580–586✓

Chapter 22 Invisible Radiations

Infra-red and ultra-violet, electric waves and wireless, cathode rays, X rays and radio-activity (§§ 587–614). Lessons 69–72.

  1. 69Invisible light: infra-red and ultra-violetCh. XXII, §§ 587–593✓
  2. 70Electric waves and wireless telegraphyCh. XXII, §§ 594–598✓
  3. 71Cathode rays, the electron, and X raysCh. XXII, §§ 599–607✓
  4. 72Radio-activity and the energy in atomsCh. XXII, §§ 608–614✓

The book itself

Each guide covers a group of the book's numbered sections (§), shown beside the title. The sections are numbered straight through the book, from § 1 to § 614. The guides are written for this site; the book is in the public domain.

@teddyrookbook GitHub