Physics permeates the essence of our universe, governing everything from tiny subatomic particles to the enormous expanses of galaxies and space-time. As such an integral subject linking math, science and engineering fields, physics provides an unparalleled lens for understanding the world around us. Yet with complex abstract concepts and demanding mathematics skills required, diving deeply into physics remains intimidating for many learners.
Fortunately, the meteoric rise of online education over the past decade now enables high-quality physics instruction outside traditional university lectures. According to HolonIQ’s projections, the global online education market’s staggering growth trajectory should rocket from $149 billion in 2015 to over $350 billion by 2025. Driving this demand is the unmatched convenience and flexibility of learning complex subjects like physics anytime, anywhere and at your own pace that online platforms provide.
For independent learners seeking structured guidance on physics, I’ve compiled this guide to the eight best online courses available today. Targeting all levels from introductory mechanics to graduate-level quantum mechanics, this hand-picked set of courses equip you with resources to self-direct your physics education. I’ll compare course attributes across key dimensions like the physics focus area, level of instruction, credentials of lecturers, and workload commitment required. My goal is for any prospective physics student to leverage this data-rich analysis for finding your optimal match. Now let’s survey these phenomenal online physics learning options!
Comparison of Online Physics Course Attributes
| Course | Provider | Topic Focus | Level | Instructor(s) | Format | Time Commitment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Physics I: Classical Mechanics | edX | Newtonian Mechanics | Introductory | Walter Lewin, MIT Professor | 8 weeks of video lectures + assignments/readings | 2-4 hours/week |
| Physics II: Electricity and Magnetism | MIT OpenCourseware | Electromagnetism, Maxwell‘s Equations | Intermediate | Walter Lewin, MIT Professor | 14 weeks lecture videos with assignments | 1 hour lectures, + assignments |
| Astrophysics: The Violent Universe | edX | Stars, Galaxies, Exoplanets | Introductory | Matthew Adams, Australian National University Professor | 8 weeks structured course | 2-4 hours/week |
| Particle Physics: An Introduction | FutureLearn | Quarks, Neutrinos, Quantum Particles | Introductory | University of Geneva Faculty | 8 weeks structured course | ~3 hours/week |
| Physics I: Mechanics | edX | Newtonian Mechanics, Conservation Laws | University Equivalent | Ge Wang, Georgia Tech Professor | 15 weeks structured course | 6-10 hours/week |
| Quantum Mechanics for Scientists and Engineers | MIT OpenCourseware | Quantum Theory, Angular Momentum | Graduate Level | Barton Zwiebach, MIT Professor | Lecture notes, assignments, exams | 15+ hours/week |
| Super-Earths and Life | edX | Astrobiology, Exoplanets | Intermediate | Dimitar Sasselov, Harvard Professor | 8 week structured course | 2-5 hours/week |
| Advanced Quantum Mechanics | MIT OpenCourseware | Quantum Field Theory, String Theory | Graduate/Post-graduate | Barton Zwiebach, MIT Professor | Lecture notes, assignments | 15+ hours/week |
1. Physics I: Classical Mechanics
Provider: edX
Instructor: Dr. Walter Lewin
For a superb introduction to foundational Newtonian mechanics, this edX course taught by beloved MIT Professor Walter Lewin is my top recommendation. As the standard first course in undergraduate physics curriculums, Professor Lewin’s mastery of communicating unintuitive concepts has captured the imagination of physics students worldwide.
Spanning 8 weeks of video lectures and assignments, the course methodically scaffolds mechanics topics assuming no prior physics background. You’ll build intuition for key concepts like kinematics, dynamics, conservation laws, work, energy and more through Lewin’s dramatic demonstrations and patient exposition.
Assigned readings and challenging problem sets encourage active application of knowledge. Professor Lewin remarks, "I want students to struggle with the concepts, not with paper-and-pencil work…so I provide the problem-solving framework and emphasize understanding the ideas."
This free introductory course works excellently for preparing high schoolers for AP Physics exams or shoring up basics for more advanced study. By directly engaging withfoundational concepts at your own pace, you‘ll emerge equipped with strengthened conceptual grasp to tackle intermediate material.
2. Physics II: Electricity and Magnetism
Provider: MIT OpenCourseWare
Instructor: Dr. Walter Lewin
Expanding beyond mechanics foundations, this OCW course explores the intricate interplay between electric and magnetic forces pervading our universe. Delving into topics like electrostatics, electromagnetic induction, Maxwell’s equations and more, Professor Lewin bridges physical intuition with mathematical formalisms.
As follow-on to Physics I, this class suits learners pursuing a structured pathway for building physics fluency. The materials provided follow an on-campus MIT Electricity & Magnetism course including problem sets with solutions.
Spanning 14 weeks of hour-long lectures, Professor Lewin’s consistency in connecting equations to tangible examples shines. As one student raves, “I love this teacher‘s enthusiasm and his experiments to demonstrate complex concepts.” If you aspire towards an intermediate level grasp of electromagnetism, Walter Lewin‘s inimitable lecturing style makes this offering a standout choice.
3. Astrophysics: The Violent Universe
Provider: edX
Instructor: Dr. Matthew Adams
Transitioning to applying physics understanding to celestial contexts, this Australian National University course provides beginner-friendly foundations for grasping phenomenona spanning stars, galaxies and exoplanets. Taught by astrophysicist Dr. Matthew Adams, the course balances qualitative explanations with the precise mathematical treatment underpinning analysis techniques.
The lecturing style excels at building intuition for interpreting signatures across the electromagnetic spectrum to characterize cosmic objects. You‘ll also appreciate the thoughtful inclusion of Aboriginal Australian astronomical perspectives interweaving traditional wisdom alongside modern astrophysics concepts.
The workload spans 8 weeks of structured lessons and assignments amounting to 2-4 hours weekly. While some math and physics proficiency is helpful to extract the most value, Dr. Adams scaffolds concepts specifically for newcomers to astrophysics. If you‘re curious about the violent, vibrant universe beyond our world, this accessible yet illuminating introductory course comes highly recommended!
4. Particle Physics: An Introduction
Provider: FutureLearn
Instructors: University of Geneva Faculty
Transitioning to the quantum realm underlying all matter, this FutureLearn course from the prestigious University of Geneva offers the perfect starting point for grasping miniscule subatomic particles. Taught by a rotation of U Geneva physics experts, each faculty member‘s specialization shines through in explicating topics like particle colliders, Higgs bosons, neutrinos and more through the Standard Model framework.
The 8 week structured course balances qualitative descriptions with precise mathematical representations to build well-rounded intuition for particle physics. The browser-based format entails reading articles, watching expert lecturer videos, responding to polls and participating in discussions for around 3 hours weekly.
For learners without prior particle physics experience looking for an accessible yet detailed qualitative and quantitative exploration of fundamental quantum particles, this course comes highly recommended. By directly engaging with research-focused Geneva physics faculty at your own pace, you‘ll gain priceless first-hand perspective into this rapidly evolving field.
5. Physics I: Mechanics
Provider: edX
Instructor: Dr. Ge Wang
Transitioning to advanced university-level instruction, this challenging Georgia Tech Mechanics course dives substantially deeper into theory and problem analysis than standard introductory physics. Taught utilizing materials directly from Georgia Tech‘s acclaimed on-campus Physics I curriculum, instructor Ge Wang drives home critical concepts like Newton‘s laws, conservation of momentum, non-inertial reference frames and more.
The workload entails 6-10 hours weekly over 15 weeks working through video lectures, textbook readings, challenging problem sets using an online calculator and active discussion forum participation. With foundational calculus & some physics assumed, Professor Wang‘s methodical approach shines in incrementally expanding mechanical concepts to tackle complex multidimensional analysis.
For motivated online learners seeking a university-equivalent physics foundation, the sheer volume of quality instruction Dr. Wang has curated offers tremendous value. While certainly demanding, fully engaging with these materials will leave you abundantly prepared to excel in higher-level physics and engineering coursework.
6. Quantum Mechanics for Scientists and Engineers
Provider: MIT OpenCourseWare
Instructor: Dr. Barton Zwiebach
Demonstrating the truly advanced material available via OCW, this graduate quantum mechanics course dives deeply into the theory‘s mathematical framework. Taught by renowned MIT physics professor Barton Zwiebach, the course was designed specifically for first-year graduate students with existing quantum physics and electricity & magnetism backgrounds.
Over 14 weeks students devote 15+ hours weekly to progressing through dense lecture content, working meticulous problem sets and internalizing concepts through communal struggle. Professor Zwiebach is frank about the challenges ahead, cautioning "Learning quantum mechanics is hard work. Learn to enjoy struggling with it."
The materials provided include Zwiebach‘s 130 page lecture notes, problem sets with solutions, exams and a few experimental lecture videos. Subject matter spans essential graduate training across Dirac notation, Hilbert spaces, time evolution, quantum harmonic oscillator, angular momentum principles and more.
While intensely demanding, for learners with adequate undergraduate quantum preparation and mathematical maturity these carefully constructed OCW materials provide extraordinary access to elite-level graduate instruction. Be prepared to devote 15+ hours weekly to deeply engage and ask for help early and often!
7. Super-Earths and Life
Provider: edX
Instructor: Dr. Dimitar Sasselov
Merging astrophysics, planetary science and biology, this forward-looking Harvard course tackles the engrossing question of extraterrestrial life on exoplanets larger than Earth. Presented by Harvard professor Dimitar Sasselov, the 2016 course materials provide an enthralling study for intermediate students seeking an integrated interdisciplinary challenge.
The workload entails 2-5 hours weekly across 8 weeks progressing through three phases: studying Super-Earth exoplanet properties, biosignature detection techniques like spectra analysis, and reviewing promising known candidates for indications of habitability.
Whilefoundational physics and astronomy knowledge is required to fully benefit, Dr. Sasselov‘s approachable lecturing style makes the content exceedingly accessible. You‘ll also appreciate perspectives from guest lecturers like Sara Seager, an MIT exoplanet research pioneer.
For space enthusiasts fascinated by the possibilities of alien life detection, this one-of-a-kind course melds sophisticated science across disciplines into a cohesive narrative. The insights you‘ll gain into probing distant worlds for living signatures will stick with you forever!
8. Advanced Quantum Mechanics
Provider: MIT OpenCourseWare
Instructor: Dr. Barton Zwiebach
Finally, this extremely advanced OCW course ventures beyond graduate-level quantum mechanics into sophisticated extensions like quantum field theory and string theory. Once again led by the exceptional MIT lecturer Dr. Barton Zwiebach, this follow-on course drives home first-year PhD-level content surrounding quantum action principles, path integrals, gauge field theories, Standard Models and much deeper theories actively informing modern particle physics research.
The OCW materials provided include Zwiebach‘s dense 38 lecture notes along with problem sets without accompanying solutions. Make absolutely no mistake – only the most mathematically fluent physics students with prior graduate level quantum mechanics have hope of persevering through these enormously challenging concepts.
For anyone capable of comprehending the immense complexity of deriving Hamiltonian densities or partition functionals described here, you‘ll gain priceless glimpses into the hardly comprehensible leading edge of today‘s most fundamental physics theories underlying our mysterious reality.
This guide spanning a spectrum of physics focus areas and levels of advancement demonstrates the outstanding instruction now available independent of university enrollment. Whether you‘re reviewing high school AP Physics basics, preparing for undergraduate exams or even pushing into esoteric graduate realms like quantum field theory, carefully selected online resources enable successful self-directed physics learning.
Leveraging structured sequencing, expert lecturers, vibrant discussion forums and assignments with solutions provides advantages for concentrated learning many students report lacking through standard lectures alone. By fully taking advantage of the abundant materials presented across video lessons, lecture notes, problem sets and more, independent online learners can absolutely achieve deep mastery.
The key is matching your background and goals to select the course providing the right balance of support and challenge to stay productively engaged. With physics permeating the machinery of our universe and technology alike, I hope this guide sparks your curiosity into exploring nature‘s law at play! Please don‘t hesitate to contact me if any questions arise on best physics learning paths for your needs.
