Online courses directory (273)

This course provides a thorough introduction to the principles and methods of physics for students who have good prepara

This class is an introduction to classical mechanics for students who are comfortable with calculus. The main topics are: Vectors, Kinematics, Forces, Motion, Momentum, Energy, Angular Motion, Angular Momentum, Gravity, Planetary Motion, Moving Frames, and the Motion of Rigid Bodies.

This freshman-level course is the second semester of introductory physics. The focus is on electricity and magnetism. The subject is taught using the TEAL (Technology Enabled Active Learning) format which utilizes small group interaction and current technology. The TEAL/Studio Project at MIT is a new approach to physics education designed to help students develop much better intuition about, and conceptual models of, physical phenomena.

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Acknowledgements

The TEAL project is supported by The Alex and Brit d'Arbeloff Fund for Excellence in MIT Education, MIT iCampus, the Davis Educational Foundation, the National Science Foundation, the Class of 1960 Endowment for Innovation in Education, the Class of 1951 Fund for Excellence in Education, the Class of 1955 Fund for Excellence in Teaching, and the Helena Foundation. Many people have contributed to the development of the course materials. (PDF)

Electrostatics (part 1): Introduction to Charge and Coulomb's Law. Electrostatics (part 2). Proof (Advanced): Field from infinite plate (part 1). Proof (Advanced): Field from infinite plate (part 2). Electric Potential Energy. Electric Potential Energy (part 2-- involves calculus). Voltage. Capacitance. Circuits (part 1). Circuits (part 2). Circuits (part 3). Circuits (part 4). Cross product 1. Cross Product 2. Cross Product and Torque. Introduction to Magnetism. Magnetism 2. Magnetism 3. Magnetism 4. Magnetism 5. Magnetism 6: Magnetic field due to current. Magnetism 7. Magnetism 8. Magnetism 9: Electric Motors. Magnetism 10: Electric Motors. Magnetism 11: Electric Motors. Magnetism 12: Induced Current in a Wire. The dot product. Dot vs. Cross Product. Calculating dot and cross products with unit vector notation. Electrostatics (part 1): Introduction to Charge and Coulomb's Law. Electrostatics (part 2). Proof (Advanced): Field from infinite plate (part 1). Proof (Advanced): Field from infinite plate (part 2). Electric Potential Energy. Electric Potential Energy (part 2-- involves calculus). Voltage. Capacitance. Circuits (part 1). Circuits (part 2). Circuits (part 3). Circuits (part 4). Cross product 1. Cross Product 2. Cross Product and Torque. Introduction to Magnetism. Magnetism 2. Magnetism 3. Magnetism 4. Magnetism 5. Magnetism 6: Magnetic field due to current. Magnetism 7. Magnetism 8. Magnetism 9: Electric Motors. Magnetism 10: Electric Motors. Magnetism 11: Electric Motors. Magnetism 12: Induced Current in a Wire. The dot product. Dot vs. Cross Product. Calculating dot and cross products with unit vector notation.

Fluids (part 1). Fluids (part 2). Fluids (part 3). Fluids (part 4). Fluids (part 5). Fluids (part 6). Fluids (part 7). Fluids (part 8). Fluids (part 9). Fluids (part 10). Fluids (part 11). Fluids (part 12). Fluids (part 1). Fluids (part 2). Fluids (part 3). Fluids (part 4). Fluids (part 5). Fluids (part 6). Fluids (part 7). Fluids (part 8). Fluids (part 9). Fluids (part 10). Fluids (part 11). Fluids (part 12).

Classical gravity. How masses attract each other (according to Newton). Introduction to Gravity. Mass and Weight Clarification. Gravity for Astronauts in Orbit. Would a Brick or Feather Fall Faster. Acceleration Due to Gravity at the Space Station. Space Station Speed in Orbit. Introduction to Newton's Law of Gravitation. Gravitation (part 2). Introduction to Gravity. Mass and Weight Clarification. Gravity for Astronauts in Orbit. Would a Brick or Feather Fall Faster. Acceleration Due to Gravity at the Space Station. Space Station Speed in Orbit. Introduction to Newton's Law of Gravitation. Gravitation (part 2).

Linear momentum. Conservation of momentum. Elastic collisions. Introduction to Momentum. Momentum: Ice skater throws a ball. 2-dimensional momentum problem. 2-dimensional momentum problem (part 2). Introduction to Momentum. Momentum: Ice skater throws a ball. 2-dimensional momentum problem. 2-dimensional momentum problem (part 2).

Relationship between angular velocity and speed. Why Distance is Area under Velocity-Time Line. Introduction to Vectors and Scalars. Calculating Average Velocity or Speed. Solving for Time. Displacement from Time and Velocity Example. Acceleration. Balanced and Unbalanced Forces. Unbalanced Forces and Motion. Newton's First Law of Motion. Newton's First Law of Motion Concepts. Newton's First Law of Motion. Newton's Second Law of Motion. Newton's Third Law of Motion. Airbus A380 Take-off Time. Airbus A380 Take-off Distance. Average Velocity for Constant Acceleration. Acceleration of Aircraft Carrier Takeoff. Race Cars with Constant Speed Around Curve. Introduction to Gravity. Mass and Weight Clarification. Gravity for Astronauts in Orbit. Would a Brick or Feather Fall Faster. Deriving Displacement as a Function of Time, Acceleration and Initial Velocity. Plotting Projectile Displacement, Acceleration, and Velocity. Projectile Height Given Time. Deriving Max Projectile Displacement Given Time. Impact Velocity From Given Height. Visualizing Vectors in 2 Dimensions. Projectile at an Angle. Different Way to Determine Time in Air. Launching and Landing on Different Elevations. Total Displacement for Projectile. Total Final Velocity for Projectile. Correction to Total Final Velocity for Projectile. Projectile on an Incline. Unit Vectors and Engineering Notation. Clearing the Green Monster at Fenway. Green Monster at Fenway Part 2. Optimal angle for a projectile part 1. Optimal angle for a projectile part 2 - Hangtime. Optimal angle for a projectile part 3 - Horizontal distance as a function of angle (and speed). Optimal angle for a projectile part 4 Finding the optimal angle and distance with a bit of calculus. Slow Sock on Lubricon VI. Normal Forces on Lubricon VI. Normal Force and Contact Force. Normal Force in an Elevator. Inclined Plane Force Components. Ice Accelerating Down an Incline. Force of Friction Keeping the Block Stationary. Correction to Force of Friction Keeping the Block Stationary. Force of Friction Keeping Velocity Constant. Intuition on Static and Kinetic Friction Comparisons. Static and Kinetic Friction Example. Introduction to Tension. Introduction to Tension (Part 2). Tension in an accelerating system and pie in the face. Introduction to Momentum. Momentum: Ice skater throws a ball. 2-dimensional momentum problem. 2-dimensional momentum problem (part 2). Introduction to work and energy. Work and Energy (part 2). Conservation of Energy. Work/Energy problem with Friction. Introduction to mechanical advantage. Mechanical Advantage (part 2). Mechanical Advantage (part 3). Center of Mass. Introduction to Torque. Moments. Moments (part 2). Unit Vector Notation. Unit Vector Notation (part 2). Projectile Motion with Ordered Set Notation. Projectile motion (part 1). Projectile motion (part 2). Projectile motion (part 3). Projectile motion (part 4). Projectile motion (part 5). Centripetal Force and Acceleration Intuition. Visual Understanding of Centripetal Acceleration Formula. Calculus proof of centripetal acceleration formula. Loop De Loop Question. Loop De Loop Answer part 1. Loop De Loop Answer part 2. Acceleration Due to Gravity at the Space Station. Space Station Speed in Orbit. Conservation of angular momentum. Introduction to Newton's Law of Gravitation. Gravitation (part 2). Viewing g as the value of Earth's Gravitational Field Near the Surface. Intro to springs and Hooke's Law. Potential energy stored in a spring. Spring potential energy example (mistake in math). Introduction to Harmonic Motion. Harmonic Motion Part 2 (calculus). Harmonic Motion Part 3 (no calculus).

Thinking about making things rotate. Center of mass, torque, moments and angular velocity. Center of Mass. Introduction to Torque. Moments. Moments (part 2). Relationship between angular velocity and speed. Conservation of angular momentum. Center of Mass. Introduction to Torque. Moments. Moments (part 2). Relationship between angular velocity and speed. Conservation of angular momentum.

In this tutorial we begin to explore ideas of velocity and acceleration. We do exciting things like throw things off of cliffs (far safer on paper than in real life) and see how high a ball will fly in the air. Introduction to Vectors and Scalars. Calculating Average Velocity or Speed. Solving for Time. Displacement from Time and Velocity Example. Acceleration. Airbus A380 Take-off Time. Airbus A380 Take-off Distance. Why Distance is Area under Velocity-Time Line. Average Velocity for Constant Acceleration. Acceleration of Aircraft Carrier Takeoff. Deriving Displacement as a Function of Time, Acceleration and Initial Velocity. Plotting Projectile Displacement, Acceleration, and Velocity. Projectile Height Given Time. Deriving Max Projectile Displacement Given Time. Impact Velocity From Given Height. Viewing g as the value of Earth's Gravitational Field Near the Surface. Projectile motion (part 1). Projectile motion (part 2). Projectile motion (part 3). Projectile motion (part 4). Projectile motion (part 5). Introduction to Vectors and Scalars. Calculating Average Velocity or Speed. Solving for Time. Displacement from Time and Velocity Example. Acceleration. Airbus A380 Take-off Time. Airbus A380 Take-off Distance. Why Distance is Area under Velocity-Time Line. Average Velocity for Constant Acceleration. Acceleration of Aircraft Carrier Takeoff. Deriving Displacement as a Function of Time, Acceleration and Initial Velocity. Plotting Projectile Displacement, Acceleration, and Velocity. Projectile Height Given Time. Deriving Max Projectile Displacement Given Time. Impact Velocity From Given Height. Viewing g as the value of Earth's Gravitational Field Near the Surface. Projectile motion (part 1). Projectile motion (part 2). Projectile motion (part 3). Projectile motion (part 4). Projectile motion (part 5).

Pendulums. Slinkies. You when you have to use the bathroom but it is occupied. These all go back and forth over and over and over again. This tutorial explores this type of motion. Introduction to Harmonic Motion. Harmonic Motion Part 2 (calculus). Harmonic Motion Part 3 (no calculus). Introduction to Harmonic Motion. Harmonic Motion Part 2 (calculus). Harmonic Motion Part 3 (no calculus).

Thermodynamics (part 1). Thermodynamics (part 2). Thermodynamics (part 3). Thermodynamics (part 4). Thermodynamics (part 5). Macrostates and Microstates. Quasistatic and Reversible Processes. First Law of Thermodynamics/ Internal Energy. More on Internal Energy. Work from Expansion. PV-diagrams and Expansion Work. Proof: U=(3/2)PV or U=(3/2)nRT. Work Done by Isothermic Process. Carnot Cycle and Carnot Engine. Proof: Volume Ratios in a Carnot Cycle. Proof: S (or Entropy) is a valid state variable. Thermodynamic Entropy Definition Clarification. Reconciling Thermodynamic and State Definitions of Entropy. Entropy Intuition. Maxwell's Demon. More on Entropy. Efficiency of a Carnot Engine. Carnot Efficiency 2: Reversing the Cycle. Carnot Efficiency 3: Proving that it is the most efficient. Enthalpy. Heat of Formation. Hess's Law and Reaction Enthalpy Change. Gibbs Free Energy and Spontaneity. Gibbs Free Energy Example. More rigorous Gibbs Free Energy/ Spontaneity Relationship. A look at a seductive but wrong Gibbs/Spontaneity Proof. Stoichiometry Example Problem 1. Stoichiometry Example Problem 2. Limiting Reactant Example Problem 1. Empirical and Molecular Formulas from Stoichiometry. Example of Finding Reactant Empirical Formula. Stoichiometry of a Reaction in Solution. Another Stoichiometry Example in a Solution. Molecular and Empirical Forumlas from Percent Composition. Hess's Law Example. Thermodynamics (part 1). Thermodynamics (part 2). Thermodynamics (part 3). Thermodynamics (part 4). Thermodynamics (part 5). Macrostates and Microstates. Quasistatic and Reversible Processes. First Law of Thermodynamics/ Internal Energy. More on Internal Energy. Work from Expansion. PV-diagrams and Expansion Work. Proof: U=(3/2)PV or U=(3/2)nRT. Work Done by Isothermic Process. Carnot Cycle and Carnot Engine. Proof: Volume Ratios in a Carnot Cycle. Proof: S (or Entropy) is a valid state variable. Thermodynamic Entropy Definition Clarification. Reconciling Thermodynamic and State Definitions of Entropy. Entropy Intuition. Maxwell's Demon. More on Entropy. Efficiency of a Carnot Engine. Carnot Efficiency 2: Reversing the Cycle. Carnot Efficiency 3: Proving that it is the most efficient. Enthalpy. Heat of Formation. Hess's Law and Reaction Enthalpy Change. Gibbs Free Energy and Spontaneity. Gibbs Free Energy Example. More rigorous Gibbs Free Energy/ Spontaneity Relationship. A look at a seductive but wrong Gibbs/Spontaneity Proof. Stoichiometry Example Problem 1. Stoichiometry Example Problem 2. Limiting Reactant Example Problem 1. Empirical and Molecular Formulas from Stoichiometry. Example of Finding Reactant Empirical Formula. Stoichiometry of a Reaction in Solution. Another Stoichiometry Example in a Solution. Molecular and Empirical Forumlas from Percent Composition. Hess's Law Example.

You understand velocity and acceleration well in one-dimension. Now we can explore scenarios that are even more fun. With a little bit of trigonometry (you might want to review your basic trig, especially what sin and cos are), we can think about whether a baseball can clear the "green monster" at Fenway Park. Visualizing Vectors in 2 Dimensions. Projectile at an Angle. Different Way to Determine Time in Air. Launching and Landing on Different Elevations. Total Displacement for Projectile. Total Final Velocity for Projectile. Correction to Total Final Velocity for Projectile. Projectile on an Incline. Unit Vectors and Engineering Notation. Clearing the Green Monster at Fenway. Green Monster at Fenway Part 2. Unit Vector Notation. Unit Vector Notation (part 2). Projectile Motion with Ordered Set Notation. Optimal angle for a projectile part 1. Optimal angle for a projectile part 2 - Hangtime. Optimal angle for a projectile part 3 - Horizontal distance as a function of angle (and speed). Optimal angle for a projectile part 4 Finding the optimal angle and distance with a bit of calculus. Race Cars with Constant Speed Around Curve. Centripetal Force and Acceleration Intuition. Visual Understanding of Centripetal Acceleration Formula. Calculus proof of centripetal acceleration formula. Loop De Loop Question. Loop De Loop Answer part 1. Loop De Loop Answer part 2. Visualizing Vectors in 2 Dimensions. Projectile at an Angle. Different Way to Determine Time in Air. Launching and Landing on Different Elevations. Total Displacement for Projectile. Total Final Velocity for Projectile. Correction to Total Final Velocity for Projectile. Projectile on an Incline. Unit Vectors and Engineering Notation. Clearing the Green Monster at Fenway. Green Monster at Fenway Part 2. Unit Vector Notation. Unit Vector Notation (part 2). Projectile Motion with Ordered Set Notation. Optimal angle for a projectile part 1. Optimal angle for a projectile part 2 - Hangtime. Optimal angle for a projectile part 3 - Horizontal distance as a function of angle (and speed). Optimal angle for a projectile part 4 Finding the optimal angle and distance with a bit of calculus. Race Cars with Constant Speed Around Curve. Centripetal Force and Acceleration Intuition. Visual Understanding of Centripetal Acceleration Formula. Calculus proof of centripetal acceleration formula. Loop De Loop Question. Loop De Loop Answer part 1. Loop De Loop Answer part 2.

Introduction to Waves. Amplitude, Period, Frequency and Wavelength of Periodic Waves. Introduction to the Doppler Effect. Doppler effect formula when source is moving away. When the source and the wave move at the same velocity. Mach Numbers. Specular and Diffuse Reflection. Specular and Diffuse Reflection 2. Refraction and Snell's Law. Refraction in Water. Snell's Law Example 1. Snell's Law Example 2. Total Internal Reflection. Virtual Image. Parabolic Mirrors and Real Images. Parabolic Mirrors 2. Convex Parabolic Mirrors. Convex Lenses. Convex Lens Examples. Doppler effect formula for observed frequency. Concave Lenses. Object Image and Focal Distance Relationship (Proof of Formula). Object Image Height and Distance Relationship. Introduction to Waves. Amplitude, Period, Frequency and Wavelength of Periodic Waves. Introduction to the Doppler Effect. Doppler effect formula when source is moving away. When the source and the wave move at the same velocity. Mach Numbers. Specular and Diffuse Reflection. Specular and Diffuse Reflection 2. Refraction and Snell's Law. Refraction in Water. Snell's Law Example 1. Snell's Law Example 2. Total Internal Reflection. Virtual Image. Parabolic Mirrors and Real Images. Parabolic Mirrors 2. Convex Parabolic Mirrors. Convex Lenses. Convex Lens Examples. Doppler effect formula for observed frequency. Concave Lenses. Object Image and Focal Distance Relationship (Proof of Formula). Object Image Height and Distance Relationship.

Work and energy. Potential energy. Kinetic energy. Mechanical advantage. Springs and Hooke's law. Introduction to work and energy. Work and Energy (part 2). Conservation of Energy. Work/Energy problem with Friction. Introduction to mechanical advantage. Mechanical Advantage (part 2). Mechanical Advantage (part 3). Intro to springs and Hooke's Law. Potential energy stored in a spring. Spring potential energy example (mistake in math). Introduction to work and energy. Work and Energy (part 2). Conservation of Energy. Work/Energy problem with Friction. Introduction to mechanical advantage. Mechanical Advantage (part 2). Mechanical Advantage (part 3). Intro to springs and Hooke's Law. Potential energy stored in a spring. Spring potential energy example (mistake in math).

Fundamental topics in electromagnetism: electric charge, electric fields, currents, magnetic fields, and induction.

Planet Earth, an overview of selected geological topics, discusses how earthquakes, volcanoes, minerals and rocks, energy, and plate tectonics have interacted over deep time to produce our dynamic island in space, and its unique resources.

This course describes the processes by which mass, momentum, and energy are transported in plasmas, with special reference to magnetic confinement fusion applications.

The Fokker-Planck collision operator and its limiting forms, as well as collisional relaxation and equilibrium, are considered in detail. Special applications include a Lorentz gas, Brownian motion, alpha particles, and runaway electrons.

The Braginskii formulation of classical collisional transport in general geometry based on the Fokker-Planck equation is presented.

Neoclassical transport in tokamaks, which is sensitive to the details of the magnetic geometry, is considered in the high (Pfirsch-Schluter), low (banana) and intermediate (plateau) regimes of collisionality.

This course introduces the design of feedback control systems as applied to a variety of air and spacecraft systems. Topics include the properties and advantages of feedback systems, time-domain and frequency-domain performance measures, stability and degree of stability, the Root locus method, Nyquist criterion, frequency-domain design, and state space methods.

This course surveys a variety of reasoning, optimization and decision making methodologies for creating highly autonomous systems and decision support aids. The focus is on principles, algorithms, and their application, taken from the disciplines of artificial intelligence and operations research.

Reasoning paradigms include logic and deduction, heuristic and constraint-based search, model-based reasoning, planning and execution, and machine learning. Optimization paradigms include linear programming, integer programming, and dynamic programming. Decision-making paradigms include decision theoretic planning, and Markov decision processes.