Modern Physics 1st edition


Access is contingent on use of this textbook in the instructor's classroom.

  • Chapter 1: Historical Overview
    • 1.1: Pre-20th Century Physics
    • 1.2: History of the Kinetic Theory of Gases
    • 1.3: History of the Models of Light
    • 1.4: Fundamental Forces and Unification
    • 1.5: History of Atomic Theory
    • 1.6: Problems with Classical Physics (17)

  • Chapter 2: Special Relativity
    • 2.1: The Concept of the Ether (5)
    • 2.2: The Michelson-Morley Experiment (5)
    • 2.3: The Two Postulates of Special Relativity
    • 2.4: Lorentz Transformation (5)
    • 2.5: Time Dilation; Length Contraction (10)
    • 2.6: Adding Velocities in Special Relativity (5)
    • 2.7: Experiments Confirming Relativity
    • 2.8: The Twin Paradox
    • 2.9: Spacetime Intervals and Diagrams
    • 2.10: The Relativistic Doppler Effect (5)
    • 2.11: Momentum in Special Relativity (5)
    • 2.12: Energy in Special Relativity (9)
    • 2.13: Units and Calculations
    • 2.14: Relativity and Electromagnetism

  • Chapter 3: Early Quantum Physics
    • 3.1: X-Rays; Electrons (5)
    • 3.2: Charge of the Electron (5)
    • 3.3: Line Spectra (5)
    • 3.4: Quantization in Nature
    • 3.5: Blackbody Radiation (6)
    • 3.6: The Photoelectric Effect (8)
    • 3.7: Producing X-Rays; Bremsstrahlung (5)
    • 3.8: The Compton Effect (6)
    • 3.9: Positrons; Pair Production; Annihilation (5)

  • Chapter 4: Atomic Structure
    • 4.1: Early Atomic Models
    • 4.2: Rutherford Scattering (5)
    • 4.3: Planetary Atomic Model (4)
    • 4.4: The Bohr Model (13)
    • 4.5: Bohr Model: Predictions and Limits
    • 4.6: Characteristic X-Rays (4)
    • 4.7: Franck-Hertz Experiment; Atomic Energy Levels (5)

  • Chapter 5: Wave Properties of Matter and Wave Functions
    • 5.1: X-Ray Diffraction (5)
    • 5.2: Matter Waves and De Broglie Wavelength (5)
    • 5.3: Electron Diffraction (5)
    • 5.4: Waves (5)
    • 5.5: Wave-Particle Duality
    • 5.6: The Uncertainty Principle (5)
    • 5.7: Wave Functions and Probability (5)
    • 5.8: The Particle-in-a-Box Model (5)

  • Chapter 6: Quantum Mechanics
    • 6.1: The Schrödinger Equation (7)
    • 6.2: Expectation Values and Operators (5)
    • 6.3: The Infinite Square Well Potential (5)
    • 6.4: The Finite Square Well Potential (4)
    • 6.5: The Infinite Square Well in Three Dimensions (5)
    • 6.6: The Quantum Simple Harmonic Oscillator (7)
    • 6.7: Tunneling (5)

  • Chapter 7: Quantum Mechanics of the Hydrogen Atom
    • 7.1: Applying the Schrödinger Equation to the Hydrogen Atom
    • 7.2: Solving the Schrödinger Equation for the Hydrogen Atom (3)
    • 7.3: Quantum Numbers (5)
    • 7.4: The Normal Zeeman Effect (7)
    • 7.5: Spin Angular Momentum (5)
    • 7.6: Selection Rules; Probability Distribution Functions (5)

  • Chapter 8: Atomic Physics
    • 8.1: Pauli Exclusion Principle; Periodic Table (7)
    • 8.2: Total Angular Momentum (10)
    • 8.3: The Anomalous Zeeman Effect (5)

  • Chapter 9: Introduction to Statistical Mechanics
    • 9.1: History of Statistical Physics
    • 9.2: Velocity Distribution for an Ideal Gas (3)
    • 9.3: The Equipartition Theorem (3)
    • 9.4: Speed Distribution for an Ideal Gas (6)
    • 9.5: Classical and Quantum Distributions (5)
    • 9.6: Fermi-Dirac Statistics; Electron Gasses and Conduction (9)
    • 9.7: Bose-Einstein Statistics; Superfluids and Condensates (5)

  • Chapter 10: The Physics of Molecules and Solids
    • 10.1: Molecular Bonds and Emission Spectra (17)
    • 10.2: Lasers and Stimulated Emission (8)
    • 10.3: Solids: Bonding and Crystal Structure (4)
    • 10.4: Solids: Thermal and Magnetic Properties (5)
    • 10.5: Superconductivity: Theory (6)
    • 10.6: Superconductivity: Devices and Applications

  • Chapter 11: Semiconductors
    • 11.1: Band Theory
    • 11.2: Semiconductor Theory; Thermoelectric Effect (6)
    • 11.3: Semiconductor Devices and Applications (12)
    • 11.4: Introduction to Nanotechnology (4)

  • Chapter 12: Nuclear Physics I
    • 12.1: Neutrons
    • 12.2: Properties of the Nucleus (6)
    • 12.3: The Deuteron: Binding Energy and Properties (5)
    • 12.4: The Nuclear Force and Potential
    • 12.5: Stability of Nuclei (5)
    • 12.6: Radioactivity (8)
    • 12.7: Modes of Radioactive Decay (6)
    • 12.8: Decay Series (4)

  • Chapter 13: Nuclear Physics II
    • 13.1: Nuclear Reactions; Cross Sections (5)
    • 13.2: Relativistic Kinematics of Nuclear Reactions (6)
    • 13.3: Mechanisms of Nuclear Reactions (5)
    • 13.4: Nuclear Fission (6)
    • 13.5: Nuclear Reactors (5)
    • 13.6: Nuclear Fusion (8)
    • 13.7: Other Applications

  • Chapter 14: Particle Physics
    • 14.1: Early History of Particle Physics (5)
    • 14.2: Fundamental Interactions and The Standard Model (5)
    • 14.3: Types of Particles (3)
    • 14.4: Symmetries and Conservation Laws (10)
    • 14.5: Quarks and Hadron Composition (6)
    • 14.6: Quark and Lepton Families
    • 14.7: Frontiers of Particle Physics
    • 14.8: Particle Accelerators (6)

  • Chapter 15: General Relativity
    • 15.1: The Principle of Equivalence and Spacetime Curvature
    • 15.2: Evidence of General Relativity (10)
    • 15.3: Gravitational Waves (1)
    • 15.4: Black Holes (14)
    • 15.5: Lense-Thirring and Geodetic Effects

  • Chapter 16: Cosmology and Astrophysics
    • 16.1: The Big Bang: Observational Evidence (5)
    • 16.2: The Big Bang: Theory (5)
    • 16.3: Evolution of Stars (4)
    • 16.4: Galaxies; Supernovae (5)
    • 16.5: Inflation; Dark Matter; Dark Energy
    • 16.6: Determining the Age of the Universe
    • 16.7: The Standard Model of Cosmology
    • 16.8: The Fate of the Universe


Authored by experienced physics instructors with years of teaching the introductory physics sequence, the new Modern Physics question collection by WebAssign includes more than 500 questions covering every concept in the modern physics course, designed to work with any textbook (or no textbook at all).

WebAssign Content for Modern Physics includes:
  • Answer feedback for every question and question part, designed specifically to address student misconceptions
  • Multi-part tutorials for key concepts that reinforce problem-solving skills and conceptual understanding
  • Detailed stepped-out solutions for every question, available at the instructor's discretion

Question Availability Color Key
BLACK questions are available now
GRAY questions are under development


Group Quantity Questions
Chapter 1: Historical Overview
1.P 17 001 002 003 004 005 006 007 008 009 010 011 012 013 014 015 016 017
Chapter 2: Special Relativity
2.P 49 001 002 003 004 005 006 007 008 009 010 011 012 013 014 015 016.Tutorial 017 018 019 020 021.Tutorial 022 023 024 025 026.Tutorial 027 028 029 030 031.Tutorial 032 033 034 035 036 037 038 039 040 041 042 043 044 045 046 047 048 049
Chapter 3: Early Quantum Physics
3.P 45 001.Tutorial 002 003 004 005 006 007 008 009 010 011 012 013 014 015 016 017 018.Tutorial 019 020 021 022 023 024 025 026.Tutorial 027 028 029 030 031 032 033 034 035 036 037.Tutorial 038 039 040 041 042 043 044 045
Chapter 4: Atomic Structure
4.P 31 001 002 003 004 005 006 007 008 009 010.Tutorial 011 012 013 014 015 016 017 018 019.Tutorial 020 021 022 023 024 025.Tutorial 026 027 028 029 030 031
Chapter 5: Wave Properties of Matter and Wave Functions
5.P 35 001.Tutorial 002 003 004 005 006 007.Tutorial 008 009 010 011 012 013 014 015 016 017 018 019 020 021.Tutorial 022 023 024 025 026 027 028 029 030 031 032.Tutorial 033 034 035
Chapter 6: Quantum Mechanics
6.P 38 001 002 003 004 005 006.Tutorial 007 008 009 010 011 012 013 014 015 016 017 018 019 020 021 022 023 024.Tutorial 025 026 027 028 029 030 031.Tutorial 032 033 034 035.Tutorial 036 037 038
Chapter 7: Quantum Mechanics of the Hydrogen Atom
7.P 25 001 002 003 004 005 006 007 008 009 010 011 012 013 014 015.Tutorial 016 017 018.Tutorial 019 020 021 022 023 024 025
Chapter 8: Atomic Physics
8.P 22 001 002 003 004 005 006 007.Tutorial 008 009 010 011 012 013 014 015 016.Tutorial 017 018 019 020 021 022.Tutorial
Chapter 9: Introduction to Statistical Mechanics
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Chapter 10: The Physics of Molecules and Solids
10.P 40 001 002 003.Tutorial 004 005 006 007.Tutorial 008 009 010 011 012 013 014 015 016 017 018 019.Tutorial 020 021 022 023 024 025 026 027 028 029.Tutorial 030 031 032 033 034 035 036 037 038 039.Tutorial 040
Chapter 11: Semiconductors
11.P 22 001.Tutorial 002 003 004 005 006 007 008 009 010 011 012 013.Tutorial 014 015 016 017 018 019 020 021 022
Chapter 12: Nuclear Physics I
12.P 34 001 002 003 004 005 006 007 008 009 010.Tutorial 011 012.Tutorial 013 014 015 016 017.Tutorial 018 019 020 021 022 023 024 025.Tutorial 026 027 028 029 030 031 032 033 034
Chapter 13: Nuclear Physics II
13.P 35 001 002 003 004.Tutorial 005 006 007 008 009 010 011 012 013.Tutorial 014 015 016 017.Tutorial 018 019 020 021 022 023.Tutorial 024 025 026 027 028 029.Tutorial 030 031 032 033 034 035
Chapter 14: Particle Physics
14.P 35 001 002 003 004 005 006 007 008 009 010 011 012 013 014 015 016 017 018 019 020 021 022.Tutorial 023 024 025 026 027.Tutorial 028 029 030 031 032 033 034 035.Tutorial
Chapter 15: General Relativity
15.P 25 001 002 003 004 005 006 007 008 009 010.Tutorial 011 012 013 014 015 016.Tutorial 017 018 019 020 021 022 023 024 025
Chapter 16: Cosmology and Astrophysics
16.P 19 001 002 003 004.Tutorial 005 006 007 008 009 010 011 012 013 014.Tutorial 015 016 017 018 019
Total 503