Tell me more ×
Physics Stack Exchange is a question and answer site for active researchers, academics and students of physics. It's 100% free, no registration required.
up vote 2 down vote favorite

I'm thinking of writing a paper on a new way of deriving the conservation of energy from symmetry principles and the Galilean transformations, but I'm not sure where to publish. Taking a look at AJP, it tends to be there for teachers at universities writing papers on how best to teach a certain topic, and to clear up misunderstandings. On the other hand, my paper certainly isn't to do with cutting edge physics, but merely another approach to something that is understood in other ways, and therefore not worthy of being published in Physics review, say.

So where should I publish?

More generally, how are the papers physicists publish mainly categorised, and which main journals publish papers in these areas?

share|improve this question
I can see how some may vote to have this question closed as being too subjective; I don't think it is because certain types of journals definitely publish certain types of physics papers only – Physiks lover May 11 '12 at 20:25
It's not so much subjective as it is possibly off topic, at least in my opinion. But we'll see what the community thinks. – David Zaslavsky♦ May 11 '12 at 20:57
@DavidZaslavsky yes it's borderline, since it doesn't fall into the type of questions that can be asked, nor those those that shouldn't in the faq. On the other hand, it does say: "You should only ask practical, answerable questions based on actual problems that you face" which is true in my case - I want to publish a physics paper. – Physiks lover May 11 '12 at 21:10
Subjectivity would not be the problem here. But it seem to ask for a list of an arbitrary number of answers. Maybe this is the kind of list we can tolerate, but... Also, genuinely new work in classical mechanics can indeed be published in good journals. As old as it is, the field in not static. – dmckee♦ May 11 '12 at 21:11
Related closed question physics.stackexchange.com/q/19027/2451 – Qmechanic♦ May 11 '12 at 21:23
show 2 more comments

closed as off topic by Manishearth♦ Dec 17 '12 at 21:09

Questions on Physics Stack Exchange are expected to relate to physics within the scope defined in the FAQ. Consider editing the question or leaving comments for improvement if you believe the question can be reworded to fit within the scope. Read more about closed questions here.

1 Answer

up vote 1 down vote

If your argument is nice pedagogically, and very original, it might be suitable for the "American Journal of Physics". But in general, if you just want to get it out, you can just put in on Arxiv under "General Physics", as various people have done with pedagogical innovations. Or else you can just write it in a blog, or elsewhere online.

In the case you mention, I doubt there is significantly room for improvement.

share|improve this answer

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.