This textbook consists of a set of laboratory-based modules that provide a step-by-step introduction to physics and the physical sciences. Through study of simple physical systems and starting from their own observations, students develop basic physical concepts, use and interpret different forms of scientific representations, and construct explanatory models with predictive capability. All the modules have been designed and validated by education research to develop scientific reasoning skills and to provide practice in relating scientific concepts, representations, and models to real world phenomena.

This text has been designed for courses focused on active student discovery rather than on memorization. It is particularly appropriate for preparing pre-service and in-service K-12 teachers to teach science as a process of inquiry.

Physics by Inquiry has an accompanying Instructor's Guide for college and university faculty available from the University of Washington Physics Education Group. It includes best practices for use with different student populations, information on student difficulties, information about the equipment and demonstrations referred to in the text, and to convey the purpose of unusual exercises and experiments.