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Introduction to Physics

This course creates a foundation for learning advanced physics by focusing on the fundamental tools used in high school physics and beyond. For example, students will learn how physicists apply tools such as dimensional analysis, extreme case reasoning, and symmetries to understand the relationship between mathematical models and the real world. They’ll also learn the elements of experimental physics, including designing experiments, measuring uncertainty, and analyzing data. Learning core physics practices, like estimation and techniques for physics problem solving, are built into the course curriculum as well.

12 weeks

Diagnostics

ARE YOU READY? DO YOU NEED THIS?

Documents

SYLLABUS
12 weeks ARE YOU READY? DO YOU NEED THIS? SYLLABUS  

Schedule

Wednesday
May 21 - Aug 6
7:30 - 9:00
PM ET
May 21 - Aug 6
7:30 - 9:00 PM Eastern
6:30 - 8:00 PM Central
5:30 - 7:00 PM Mountain
4:30 - 6:00 PM Pacific
Click here to see more time zones
$400 (~$34/lesson)
$400 (~$34/lesson)
CLOSED
Sunday
Jun 15 - Sep 14
7:30 - 9:00
PM ET
Jun 15 - Sep 14
7:30 - 9:00 PM Eastern
6:30 - 8:00 PM Central
5:30 - 7:00 PM Mountain
4:30 - 6:00 PM Pacific
Click here to see more time zones
$400 (~$34/lesson)
$400 (~$34/lesson)
ENROLL

STARTING SOON

Monday
Jun 23 - Sep 15
7:30 - 9:00
PM ET
Jun 23 - Sep 15
7:30 - 9:00 PM Eastern
6:30 - 8:00 PM Central
5:30 - 7:00 PM Mountain
4:30 - 6:00 PM Pacific
Click here to see more time zones
$400 (~$34/lesson)
$400 (~$34/lesson)
ENROLL
Tuesday
Sep 2 - Nov 18
7:30 - 9:00
PM ET
Sep 2 - Nov 18
7:30 - 9:00 PM Eastern
6:30 - 8:00 PM Central
5:30 - 7:00 PM Mountain
4:30 - 6:00 PM Pacific
Click here to see more time zones
$400 (~$34/lesson)
$400 (~$34/lesson)
ENROLL
Sunday
Oct 5 - Jan 11
7:30 - 9:00
PM ET
Oct 5 - Jan 11
7:30 - 9:00 PM Eastern
6:30 - 8:00 PM Central
5:30 - 7:00 PM Mountain
4:30 - 6:00 PM Pacific
Click here to see more time zones
$400 (~$34/lesson)
$400 (~$34/lesson)
ENROLL
Wednesday
Dec 10 - Mar 11
7:30 - 9:00
PM ET
Dec 10 - Mar 11
7:30 - 9:00 PM Eastern
6:30 - 8:00 PM Central
5:30 - 7:00 PM Mountain
4:30 - 6:00 PM Pacific
Click here to see more time zones
$400 (~$34/lesson)
$400 (~$34/lesson)
ENROLL

AoPS Holidays

There are no classes July 4 ‐ 6, August 29 ‐ September 1, October 31, November 24 ‐ November 30, December 20 ‐ January 2, and May 23 ‐ 25, 2026.

Who Should Take?

This is our foundational course for learning physics. It is intended for high school-level students who want to explore the way that physicists approach problems and prepare to study specific physics topics (like Mechanics or Electricity and Magnetism) in future courses. This course does not assume specific knowledge of physics. This course assumes competency with algebra; we recommend having taken at least Introduction to Algebra A at AoPS or having equivalent knowledge.

Lessons

1 Designing Experiments
2 Measurement
3 Communication in Physics
4 Uncertainty
5 Working with Equations
6 Building and Using Models
7 Problem Solving
8 Estimation
9 Working with Graphs
10 Analyzing Nonlinear Data
11 Thought Experiments
12 Conservation Laws

This was the best and most enjoyable math course I have ever taken (and this is coming from an engineering major who sat through a lot of math/engineering classes). I had never learned geometry well back in high school and was only really good at the Pythagorean theorem/SAT geometry type stuff, so I really wanted to finally address this weak area of mine. Needless to say, this course went above and beyond my expectations. I have learned so much that I can now solve almost any Alcumus geometry problem, as well as most AMC geometry problems I've encountered, where just 5 months ago I could barely do any slightly tricky geometry problem.