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There is a wealth of valuable information related to physics that is freely available on the web. Just remember that information you find on the web needs to be evaluated carefully.
Evaluation Criteria
1. Currency:
When was the book or journal article published, or when was the website last updated?
Is the information out of date? Is there more recent information about the topic that is available?
For websites, do the links appear to be working? And, are they related to the topic/s of the website?
2. Relevancy:
What is the purpose of the information source? Is the information source intended to inform, advocate, sell, slander, etc? Is it ironic (a satire or a parody)? How can you tell what its purpose is?
How well does the information source relate to your topic? Does it only address one part of your topic, or is it more broadly related? Do you need additional information sources to address different parts of your topic?
3. Authority:
What person or group is responsible for the information in your source?
Can you find contact information for that person or group?
Is the author or organization a qualified source, or an expert in their field? What credentials and/or affiliations listed on the source show evidence of authority?
For websites, what type of domain name does the website have (.com, .org., .edu, .gov, .net)? Or, does it have some other domain?
4. Objectivity/Bias:
Who is the intended audience for the information source (student, professional, general etc.)? What helped you decide who the intended audience is?
Does the information source have a bias? If so, describe the position taken on the issue.
If is appears the information source has a bias, what is an example of the loaded language that helps you recognize it?
Are the statements, opinions, and/or statistics given in the information source supported with references?
AIP offers authoritative information, services, and expertise in physics education and student programs, science communication, government relations, career services for science and engineering professionals, statistical research in physics employment and education, industrial outreach, and the history of physics and allied fields. AIP also publishes the flagship magazine Physics Today and is home to the Society of Physics Students and the Niels Bohr Library and Archives.
Started in August 1991, arXiv.org is a highly-automated electronic archive and distribution server for research articles. Covered areas include physics, mathematics, computer science, nonlinear sciences, quantitative biology, quantitative finance, and statistics.
The long-term goal of the site is to provide the public with both the background information needed to understand more about science in general — what it is, how it is done, what it means to modern life — and more specifically about what is happening to their investment in one field — particle physics.
Searches over 60 databases and over 2,200 scientific websites to provide users with access to more than 200 million pages of authoritative federal science information including research and development results.
Contains tutorials and practice tests that teach basic physics concepts, as well as animations within the Multimedia Physics Studio that help students visualize key concepts.
