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Department of Physics and Astronomy
Departmental Research Guide


This research guide relays some basic information on library and information resources pertaining to the concerns of this department, as provided by University Libraries and/or sites on the World Wide Web.

1. LC Call Nos. - - - 2. Finding Articles - - - 3. Reference Collection - - - 4. P & A Faculty - - - 5. Professional Societies - - - 6. Web Sites


1. To Shelf-Browse for Books (using main Library of Congress Subject Divisions)

Books on subjects associated with this field are shelved under the call number ranges listed below. Use TOPCAT to search for specific items in the collection, or more narrowly-defined subjects.

Astronomy (all main subjects): QB ------- Physics (all main classical subjects): QC1-QC798 ------- Geophysics: QE801-QE809 ------- Geomagnetism: QC811-QC849 ------- Radioactive Dating/Earth's Interior: QE500-QE511.7 ------- Biomagnetism & Biophysics: QH504-QH505 ------- Applied Mechanics: TA349-TA359 ------- Electric Circuits & Networks: TK452-TK454.4 ------- Electronic Circuits: TK7867-TK7882 ------- various bibliographic subjects (Z)


2. To Find Journal and Magazine Articles (using indexing/abstracting/full-text services)

The following services are recommended for courses for first-year students and nonmajors:

  • Academic Search Premier and MasterFILE Premier: These two all-subject WWW-based services (they are part of the EBSCOhost system) feature indexing and abstracting of many journals and magazines WKU Libraries receives in hardcopy, plus a large selection of articles in full-text.
  • ArticleFirst: This all-subject FirstSearch-based database indexes almost 13000 journals and magazines from 1992 onward, including some ninety percent of the ones University Libraries carries in hardcopy.
  • Science (Magazine) Online (AAAS).
  • Google Scholar: A free Web-based Google service that restricts searches to the scholarly literature. Now features linking to full-text of articles held by WKU.
  • Applied Science and Technology Index: A Web-based database that indexes a fair number of physics-related titles. A paper version running through 1997 is located in Reference at TA1 .A66 (ref.per.ind.).
The following services are recommended for use by advanced students and researchers:

Special resource: Comprehensive List of Indexes, Abstracts, and Full-Text Services Related to the Natural & Applied Sciences Held by University Libraries
Special resource:  TDNet Electronic Journal Finder [use to access Libraries' electronic journals, magazines, and newspapers, as well as some indexes and databases containing full-text articles; includes a comprehensive A-Z listing of titles]
Special resource:  Knovel Online Library: A set of technical reference books and tables of particular interest to engineering, mathematics, physics, astronomy, and chemistry.


3. Monographic Reference Works in Helm Library

The following are recommended for use:

  • handbooks, dictionaries, encyclopedias, directories, etc.: available in Reference, mainly in the QB, QC, and TK parts of the collection. Note especially the following:  History of Astronomy: An Encyclopedia QB15.H624 ------- Encyclopedia of Planetary Sciences QB600.2 .E53 ------- Twentieth Century Physics QC7.T84 ------- Instrumentation Reference Book QC53.I574 ------- Handbook of Physical Quantities QC61.H36 ------- Atomic, Molecular & Optical Physics Handbook QC173.A827 ------- Encyclopedia of Acoustics QC221.5 .E53 ------- Handbook of Optics QC369.H35 ------- Encyclopedia of Spectroscopy QC450.3 .P47 ------- Handbook of Chemistry and Physics QD65.H3.   See the Shelf List of Science & Technology-Related Reference Works in the Reference Department, Helm Library.


4. Department of Physics and Astronomy

  • Department of Physics and Astronomy Faculty http://physics.wku.edu/
  • Bell Observatory, Western Kentucky University http://astro.wku.edu/observatory/


    5. Related Professional Societies (for professional news, careers/jobs, memberships, etc.)

    Astronomy

    Physics


    6. Web Sites Recommended by Dept. of Physics and Astronomy Faculty

    A & P: General/Gateways         A & P: History/Biography         A & P: Advanced Research
    Astronomy: Solar System         Astronomy: Misc. Resources         Physics: Teaching/Education/Tutorials         Physics: Subfields, Misc.

    Astronomy & Physics: General Portals & Gateways

    Astronomy & Physics: History / Biography Astronomy & Physics: Advanced Research: Physical Data, Programs, Technical Literature, Preprints, etc. Astronomy: Planets & Solar System

    Astronomy: Miscellaneous Sites & Resources

    Physics: Teaching / Education / Student Tutorials

    Physics: Subfields, Miscellaneous Subjects, News, etc.

    University Libraries Liaison: Charles H. Smith (x6079 / charles.smith@wku.edu) last updated 3/14/2008
    page maintained by Charles H. Smith

     

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