An introduction to physics in the context of everyday objects.



How Things Work: An Introduction to Physics

Instructor: Louis A. Bloomfield
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There are 8 modules in this course
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1 video2 readings1 assignment
Professor Bloomfield examines the principle of inertia through skate boarding. Objects at rest tend to remain at rest while objects in motion, tend to remain in motion. Why does a stationary skater remain stationary? Why does a moving skater tend to continue moving? How can we describe the fluid, effortless motion of a coasting skater? How does a skater start, stop, or turn? Why does a skater need ice or wheels in order to skate? Physics concepts covered include Newton's first and second laws and 5 physical quantities: position, velocity, acceleration, force, and mass.
What's included
7 videos1 assignment
Professor Bloomfield examines the physics concepts of gravity, weight, constant acceleration, and projectile motion working with falling balls.
What's included
8 videos1 assignment
Professor Bloomfield examines the physics concepts of Newton's third law including conserved quantities, support forces, work, energy, and mechanical advantage working with ramps.
What's included
7 videos1 assignment
Professor Bloomfield illustrates the physics concepts of rotational versus translational motion, Newton's law of rotation, and 5 physical quantities: angular position, angular velocity, angular acceleration, torque, and rotational mass using seesaws.
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8 videos1 assignment
Professor Bloomfield illustrates the physics concept of frictional forces through experiments with wheels.
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8 videos1 assignment
Professor Bloomfield examines the physics concepts of momentum, impulse, angular momentum, angular impulse, and the relationship between potential energy and force using bumper cars.
What's included
7 videos1 assignment
This is the final exam.
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1 video1 assignment
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Reviewed on Jun 21, 2017
Great introduction to Physics. I use the concepts taught in this course frequently in everyday life. Professor Bloomfield explains concepts very clearly without getting overly mathematical.
Reviewed on Jun 12, 2022
I thoroughly enjoyed this course as prof was clear, slow-paced, and highly entertaining as well. Thank you prof for this course and I hope many others will get to learn physics at home!
Reviewed on Sep 22, 2016
this course brings to me a explanatory answers to the ordinary physical works surrounding us, i can say that is a fundamental stuff for beginner who love physics. It's naturally good.
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