High School Physics online video courses and MOOCs?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion focuses on recommendations for online video courses and MOOCs in physics suitable for high school students, particularly those with a basic understanding of mathematics. Participants express a desire for resources that balance accessibility with a deeper appreciation for the subject.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Homework-related

Main Points Raised

  • One participant suggests "How Things Work: An Introduction to Physics" from Coursera and "Intro to Physics" from Udacity as potential courses.
  • Another participant advocates for Walter Lewin's lecture series, describing it as the best option available, although it requires knowledge of single-variable calculus.
  • A different participant mentions that the course offered by Brilliant is also a good resource, though it is not free.
  • One participant recommends Khan Academy as a valuable resource for high school physics.
  • For wave physics, a participant points to the Science Olympiad website as a helpful tool, particularly for classes and independent study.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants present multiple recommendations without a clear consensus on which course is the best. Various options are suggested, indicating a range of preferences and perspectives on suitable resources.

Contextual Notes

Some recommendations depend on the participant's prior knowledge of mathematics, and there is variability in the accessibility of the suggested courses.

MichPod
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Hi Everybody,

Could you please point me to some good video courses on Physics for the High School level and generally of the introductory level?

What I could find meanwhile are: "How Things Work: An Introduction to Physics" from Coursera
and "Intro to Physics" from Udacity.

I am looking for something which is accessible for my 14 y/o son with a good, but pretty non-advanced knowledge of school math (which in his age and in Canada practically means no knowledge of math at all), but on the other side which does not much compromises on teaching some basics of science and ideas and not just entertaining kids. I want him somehow to start seeing beauty and intellectual depth of physics (even at High School level), not necessarily get immediately a good control on the subject (like being able to solve textbook physical problems), but to get some push so he could have some minimal, at least, interest and respect to physics.

Practically, any High School video course will go, I'll anyway need to do my selection, so what I said above is more about my attitude than what you need to take into account when proposing me some course.

Thanks in advance.
 
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these are at high school level:




In my opinion Walter Lewin's lecture series is by far the best! (It uses single variable calc.)



I have also heard the course offered by Brilliant is pretty good(but it is not free)

https://brilliant.org/courses/dynamics-bootcamp/
 
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I think Kahn academy is a good resource, worth checking out anyway.
 
For wave physics you can use the Science Olympiad website:
https://www.soinc.org/crave-wave-b
Although it's mostly based on the official SciOly rules it's also helpful for classes and independent studying.
 

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