Free Physics Course
Modern Physics & Applied Mechanics
Learn how a diagram and a few equations can explain motion in this free physics course. Join the lessons to reason through forces, track energy, and connect observations with the measurements needed to test an explanation.
About this course
The free physics course introduces a way to turn an everyday observation into a question you can analyze. You begin with units, vectors, and graphs before describing motion and explaining it with forces. Working algebra is expected, but prior physics or calculus is not, so the emphasis is on understanding what a quantity means before putting it into an equation.
Applied mechanics lessons connect energy and momentum with examples such as a moving vehicle or a collision. You then study waves, optics, circuits, and introductory atomic ideas to see how physical reasoning extends beyond motion. SI units and US unit conversions help you recognize why a measurement must be interpreted consistently. You gain a beginner foundation for further science learning, not an engineering qualification or permission to work on electrical systems.
Course outline
Getting Started: The Language and Tools of Physics
In this module, you’ll learn what physics studies, SI units and US conversions, scalars versus vectors, reading graphs and slopes, order-of-magnitude estimates, dimensional analysis, and position versus displacement.
Motion in One and Two Dimensions
In this module, you’ll learn speed versus velocity, motion graphs, the kinematic equations, free fall, projectile motion including range and height, relative motion, vector components, and solving multi-step problems.
Understanding Forces and Newton’s Three Laws
In this module, you’ll learn Newton’s three laws, the main force types, drawing free-body diagrams, static versus kinetic friction, inclined planes, weight versus mass, equilibrium, and crash safety physics.
Energy Concepts and Conservation Principles
In this module, you’ll learn how work is defined, kinetic and potential energy, the work-energy theorem, conservation of energy in roller coasters and pendulums, power, efficiency, and electric vehicle efficiency.
Momentum, Impacts, and Rotational Dynamics
In this module, you’ll learn momentum and impulse, elastic versus inelastic collisions, car crash physics, centripetal acceleration and force, banked curves, torque and angular velocity, universal gravitation, and orbits.
Wave Phenomena and Optics
In this module, you’ll learn wave properties, transverse versus longitudinal waves, interference and resonance, the Doppler effect, reflection, refraction and Snell’s law, and lenses and mirrors.
Electric Circuits and Magnetic Fields
In this module, you’ll learn Coulomb’s law, electric fields and voltage, Ohm’s law, series and parallel circuits, magnetic forces, Faraday’s law, generators, motors and transformers, and wiring safety.
Heat, Relativity, and the Atomic World
In this module, you’ll learn temperature and heat, specific heat and calorimetry, the laws of thermodynamics, special relativity, E=mc², atomic structure and the quantum model, and radioactivity.
Get access to the complete curriculum once you enroll in the course
Frequently Asked Questions
What mathematics is expected for the physics course?
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Are relativity and atomic physics included?
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