How would you feel if you could study and receive certification from prestigious universities like Harvard, Stanford, and Michigan University from the comfort of your own home? If you want to learn physics but lack the time or resources to attend traditional classroom-based courses. Online courses in physics could be the answer for you.
Because of the growing popularity of e-learning, there are now many reputable online platforms that offer physics courses that can be completed from anywhere. Whether you are a student looking to improve your physics knowledge or a professional looking to upskill in a related field, online physics courses can be a valuable and convenient way to achieve your learning objectives.
To help you kickstart your learning journey, this post covers the benefits of online learning for physics, as well as the best online courses in physics.
What Is Physics?
Physics is a branch of study that examines the interaction between matter, energy, space, and time. It aims to comprehend the fundamental rules and principles that control the cosmos, from the smallest particles to the biggest structures in the universe.
Additionally, Physics is also interested in identifying and characterizing the fundamental processes that underlie all natural events. It also attempts to characterize the natural world in terms of straightforward, elegant laws, to explain a wide range of phenomena.
Since these rules can be expressed mathematically, physicists can make predictions and test ideas using mathematical models. Some of the main branches of physics include classical mechanics, thermodynamics, electromagnetism, relativity, quantum mechanics, and astrophysics.
Why Study Physics Online?
Taking online courses in physics can be a convenient and affordable approach to learning more about the natural world and its principles. Below we dive more into why you should study physics online:
#1. Flexibility
Online physics courses offer greater scheduling and location flexibility. Furthermore, the majority of online courses are self-paced. As a result, students can access course materials and lectures at any time and from any location around the world. With a smartphone or computer and an internet connection, you can set the ball rolling!
#2. Cost-Effectiveness
Online courses can be less expensive than traditional on-campus courses because they minimize the costs of commuting, housing, and other on-campus fees. Hence, you can enroll and learn from the convenience of your own home.
#3. Access to Resources
Online courses in physics frequently give students access to a wealth of resources, such as video lectures, interactive simulations, and online discussion and collaboration forum. All of these will help to simplify your learning curve.
#4. Access to Global Community
Online physics courses can offer the chance to interact and work with students from all over the world, offering the opportunity to develop a more comprehensive understanding of physics and its uses.
What Are the Careers in Physics?
There are a wide variety of career opportunities available for people who study physics. Below is a couple of them:
What Are the Benefits of Studying Physics?
Studying physics can provide numerous benefits, ranging from career opportunities to personal growth and intellectual development, among others. Below are more benefits of studying physics.
#1. Understanding the universe
Physics is the study of the natural world, from the smallest subatomic particles to the largest structures in the universe. Studying physics can help you gain a better understanding of the universal rules that control everything from the interactions between galaxies to the forces that hold atoms together.
#2. Developing critical thinking skills
Physics requires logical reasoning, problem-solving, and mathematical skills. Thus, learning physics can aid in the development of these abilities, and skills, which can be applied in many fields.
#3. Career opportunities
A physics degree can open up several employment options, including those in engineering, teaching, research and development, and finance. Hence, physics will give you a lot of options in high-paying industries like technology, science, and the medical field.
#4. Advances scientific knowledge
Typically, physics education helps people become more tech-savvy, enabling them to comprehend and work with the technology around them. Also, physics courses advance scientific understanding, which might result in fresh discoveries and ideas that are beneficial to society as a whole.
Top 15 Online Courses In Physics
The following are our best picks for online courses in Physics:
#1. Physics 101: Forces and Kinematics
Forces and Kinematics is the first in our list of best online courses in Physics. This course serves as an introduction to the physics of force and motion. Hence, after finishing the course, students will comprehend how conservation laws and mathematical laws describe the motions and interactions of objects all around us.
Also, they will get expertise using methods like graphical analysis, algebra, vector analysis, and calculus to solve physics problems. The course covers topics like Kinematics, Newton’s Laws, Energy, and Momentum in the traditional order seen in first-semester university physics courses.
Interestingly, each of the five modules includes reading links to a free textbook, full video lectures, conceptual quizzes, and a set of homework problems. This comprehensive course is detailed and rigorous, with 100 brief lectures and over 100 problems.
#2. Understanding Einstein: The Special Theory of Relativity
Understanding Einstein, The Special Theory of Relativity is an 81 hours course that is offered by Stanford University. In this course, students will try to “understand Einstein,” with a focus on the special theory of relativity, which was developed by Albert Einstein in 1905. The objective is to move past popularized relativity presentations and myth-making. This is to better comprehend both Einstein the man and the ideas, hypotheses, and puzzling paradoxes of his theory.
#2. Introduction to Mechanics Specialization
One of the reasons why this Rice University course ranks among the best online courses in physics is that it’s for learners who are interested in first-year, university-level physics.
Through this course, you will develop a foundation in mechanics, encompassing motion, forces, energy, momentum, rotational motion, and gravitation.
This comprehensive specialization is similar in complexity and severity to what is taught in on-campus courses, with 100 concise lectures and exercises. As a result, it will adequately get students ready for their forthcoming beginning physics classes or more challenging coursework.
Furthermore, there are conceptual lecture questions, computational homework exercises, and thorough tests in the course. These questions will improve your ability to compute and estimate the necessary parameters in issues from the real world utilizing mathematical methods.
#3. Exploring Quantum Physics
The University of Maryland is the state’s flagship institution and one of the country’s top public research universities. It also ranks first in the world in research, entrepreneurship, and innovation. In addition, the university has over 37,000 students, 9,000 faculty and staff, and 250 academic programs.
Its faculty includes three Nobel laureates, three Pulitzer Prize winners, 47 members of national academies, and a large number of Fulbright scholars. Typically, an introduction to quantum physics will help you learn about cutting-edge research topics and develop a cutting-edge understanding of physics through practice.
#4. Introduction to Electricity and Magnetism Specialization
This specialization is another top class in the online courses in physics. This course will provide you with a solid foundation in electromagnetism and circuits, covering topics such as charge, forces, fields, potentials, induction, current flow, and circuit elements. This comprehensive specialization, with 100 brief lectures and problems, is similar in detail and rigor to what is taught in on-campus courses.
What you’ll learn
#5. Astronomy: Exploring Time and Space
The University of Arizona is the state’s land-grant university and a member of the Association of American Universities, a group of only 62 universities in the United States. As one of the world’s leading public research universities, the university commits more than $625 million in research each year.
Meanwhile, astronomy is the oldest science, and its history demonstrates a growing recognition of our insignificance in a vast and ancient universe. This course is intended for anyone who wants to learn more about modern astronomy. Also, you will learn about the most recent astronomical discoveries while also providing introductory support to those with no scientific background.
#6. From the Big Bang to Dark Energy
We’ve learned a lot about how the Universe evolved 13.7 billion years after the Big Bang. More than 80% of the matter in the Universe is mysterious Dark Matter, which is responsible for the formation of stars and galaxies. In contrast, the newly discovered Higgs-boson has frozen into the Universe a trillionth of a second after the Big Bang and brought order to the Universe.
Yet, we still don’t know how ordinary matter survived total annihilation by Anti-Matter. The expansion of the Universe began to accelerate around 7 billion years ago, and the Universe is being ripped apart. The culprit is Dark Energy, a mysterious energy that multiplies in a vacuum. In this course, you will investigate various pieces of evidence underlying these startling discoveries and discuss what you may discover.
#7. Understanding Modern Physics I: Relativity and Cosmology
This is the first course in the Understanding Modern Physics series, and it covers an introduction to special relativity, general relativity, and cosmology. Generally, the twentieth century was known as the century of physics. Concepts like space, time, energy, entropy, and particles have been understood at much deeper levels over the last 120 years. Following that, new paradigms of thought such as relativity and quantum mechanics emerged.
In this course, you will learn:
#9. Introduction to Thermodynamics: Transferring Energy from Here to There
This course is another highly rated specialization among the best online courses in physics. Introduction to Thermodynamics is offered by the University of Michigan, and it provides an introduction to thermodynamics.
Thermodynamics is the study of how energy is transferred from one place or form to another. As a result, you will discover the resources you require to study energy systems, such as insulated coffee mugs, solar panels, and engines.
Specifically, you will study concepts of mass and energy conservation, the first law analysis of control mass and control volume systems, the characteristics and behavior of pure substances, and applications to steady-state thermodynamic systems. Remarkably, the class is made up of lecture videos that range in length from 8 to 12 minutes. After each session, some quizzes offer problems for you to exercise your analytical abilities.
#10. Astro 101: Black Holes
Over the years, there’s been a rise in curiosity to know about Black Holes, how they are related to the universe, and how they are different from the dark star. In Astro 101: Black Holes, you will explore the concepts behind black holes. You will become familiar with the fundamental concepts of astronomy, relativity, and quantum physics using the theme of black holes.
After this training, you will be capable of:
#11. The Finite Element Method for Problems in Physics
The Finite Element Method for Problems in Physics is another top class among the online courses in physics. This course will introduce you to the finite element method and how it can be used to solve problems in physics and engineering. Conversely, the emphasis, is on coding up the formulations in a modern, open-source environment that can be expanded to other applications.
The course consists of approximately 45 hours of lectures covering material typically taught in an introductory graduate class at the University of Michigan. However, it is not formal because the main goal of these classes is to turn the viewer into a competent finite element code developer.
#12. Fundamentals of Flight mechanics Specialization
Are you interested in learning how planes take off, how pilots maintain control, and how high planes fly? This course answers all of these questions and more by delving into the fundamentals of flight mechanics. You will discover how physics laws apply to airplanes and key concepts in aviation such as lift, drag, and propulsion.
In addition, learners are encouraged to complete exercises in the form of case studies to put their newly acquired skills into practice. These exercises are built around simulators that allow the learner to manipulate variables that they has defined.
#13. Plastic electronics
Plastic electronics is yet another highly ranked program among online physics courses. With the discovery of electrically conductive polymers decades ago, the concept of plastic electronics emerged. Ten years later, the first electronic devices were realized that used organic solids instead of the ubiquitous inorganic semiconductors.
This course seeks to give a thorough introduction of the physics underlying plastic electronics. After completing this course, you should be able to demonstrate theoretical knowledge of the following subjects:
#14. Space Medicine
Have you ever wondered what it would take for humans to travel beyond the boundaries of our planet? Then you must enroll in this course. Space Medicine is an online experience led by two recent Duke graduates in which you will learn about and participate in the most pressing medical challenges confronting NASA and others working to advance the future of space exploration. Meanwhile, Space Medicine is a non-certificate, free course that includes interactive modules and weekly live discussions.
What you will learn:
#15. Nanotechnology and Nanosensors, Part1
Nanotechnology and nanosensors are the last on the list of best online courses in physics. This is a broad, interdisciplinary field that includes (bio)chemistry, physics, biology, materials science, electrical engineering, and other disciplines.
This course will cover some of the fundamental principles underlying nanotechnology and nanomaterials, as well as their critical role in novel sensing properties and applications.
The primary goal of the course is to improve critical, creative, and innovative thinking. Hence, students will understand the fabrication, characterization, and manipulation of nanomaterials and nanosensors, as well as how they can be used in new applications.
FAQs About the Online Courses In Physics
Where can I learn basic physics online?
Below are e-learning platforms where you can learn physics:
- MIT OpenCourseWare
- Physics Classroom
- Khan Academy
- OpenLearn
- HyperPhysics
- Alison
- Coursera
- edX
How can I pass physics easily?
Although Physics is a tricky subject, with hard work and dedication, you can easily pass it. Now, if you wish to pass physics with ease, attend lectures and take notes, practice and memorize key equations, join study groups, and use online resources.
Can you study physics online?
Yes, you can study physics online. There are numerous online learning platforms and universities that offer A-level physics courses. Some of them even offer a certificate of completion at the end of each course.
Conclusion
In conclusion, online courses in physics can offer a convenient and flexible approach for students to advance their knowledge and abilities in a variety of subjects. Using online education will help you build a solid foundation in physics and get ready for additional education and career advancement. However, it is critical to select a reputable institution and to be disciplined and motivated in your learning. So, we encourage you to carefully review the courses listed in this post before enrolling