How Things Work: An Introduction to Physics
Explore everyday physics through familiar objects. Learn fundamental concepts with engaging, practical examples.
Explore everyday physics through familiar objects. Learn fundamental concepts with engaging, practical examples.
This course offers an engaging introduction to physics by examining the workings of everyday objects. Led by Professor Louis A. Bloomfield, the course uses familiar items and situations to illustrate fundamental physics concepts. Students will explore topics such as motion, force, energy, and momentum through practical examples like skateboarding, falling balls, ramps, seesaws, wheels, and bumper cars. The curriculum is designed to make complex physics principles accessible and relatable, focusing on how these concepts manifest in daily life. Through a series of video lectures, demonstrations, and assignments, students will gain a deeper understanding of the physical world around them. The course covers key physics topics including Newton's laws, gravity, rotational motion, friction, and energy conservation, all presented in a context that makes them easy to grasp and remember.
4.8
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What you'll learn
Understand the principle of inertia and Newton's laws of motion
Explore gravity and its effects on falling objects
Analyze energy transfer and conservation in ramps and other simple machines
Investigate rotational motion and torque using everyday examples
Examine the role of friction in various physical systems
Study momentum and collisions through the lens of bumper cars
Skills you'll gain
This course includes:
9.6 Hours PreRecorded video
8 assignments
Access on Mobile, Tablet, Desktop
FullTime access
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There are 8 modules in this course
This course provides an accessible introduction to physics by examining the principles behind everyday objects and phenomena. The curriculum is structured around familiar examples, using them as a gateway to understanding fundamental physics concepts. Starting with the basics of motion and force through skateboarding, the course progresses through topics such as gravity and projectile motion using falling balls, energy and work with ramps, rotational motion with seesaws, friction and wheels, and collisions with bumper cars. Each module focuses on a specific set of physics principles, demonstrating how they apply in real-world situations. The course emphasizes conceptual understanding over mathematical complexity, making it ideal for students with little to no physics background. Through engaging video lectures, demonstrations, and practical examples, students will develop an intuitive grasp of physics principles and learn to apply this knowledge to understand the world around them.
Course Introduction
Module 1 · 1 Hours to complete
Skating
Module 2 · 1 Hours to complete
Falling Balls
Module 3 · 2 Hours to complete
Ramps
Module 4 · 1 Hours to complete
Seesaws
Module 5 · 2 Hours to complete
Wheels
Module 6 · 2 Hours to complete
Bumper Cars
Module 7 · 2 Hours to complete
Final
Module 8 · 32 Minutes to complete
Fee Structure
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Instructor
Innovator in Physics Education and Public Engagement
Louis A. Bloomfield is a Professor of Physics at the University of Virginia, where he has taught since 1985. He earned his B.A. summa cum laude from Amherst College in 1979 and his Ph.D. in physics from Stanford University in 1983. Bloomfield's research spans atomic, condensed matter, and optical physics, earning him numerous awards, including the Apker Award from the American Physical Society and a Presidential Young Investigator Award from the National Science Foundation.
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4.8 course rating
2,914 ratings
Frequently asked questions
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