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Physics I

A free, interactive first-year university physics course: calculus, mechanics, electromagnetism, waves and lab practice.

A rigorous physics course spanning single- and multivariable calculus, linear algebra, chemistry, computer science, mechanics, differential equations, electromagnetism, optics, waves, and laboratory practice — taught through short interactive lessons and practice questions.

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About this course

Physics I is a first-year university physics course rebuilt for active learning. Instead of reading walls of text, you work through short lessons and answer questions where the diagram itself is the answer — drag a vector, release a pendulum, adjust a field, and watch the physics respond. The result is a course you do rather than one you skim.

It moves from the mathematical groundwork a physics degree assumes — single- and multivariable calculus, linear algebra and differential equations — into the physical core: Newtonian mechanics, oscillations and waves, geometric and wave optics, and classical electromagnetism. Dedicated chemistry and computer-science units round out the scientific toolkit, and a laboratory unit covers measurement, uncertainty and experimental method so the theory stays tied to the real world.

It is designed for students starting a physics, engineering or natural-sciences degree, anyone retaking first-year physics, and self-learners who want a rigorous path instead of scattered videos. Every unit is free to start, your progress syncs across devices, and the lesson text is open-source on GitHub.

10 units

  1. 01Calculus of a Single Variable
  2. 02Chemistry
  3. 03Computer Science
  4. 04Linear Algebra and Geometry
  5. 05Principles of Mechanics
  6. 06Differential Equations and Vector Calculus
  7. 07Multivariable Calculus
  8. 08Principles of Electromagnetism and Optics
  9. 09Principles of Laboratory Practice
  10. 10Principles of Waves, Fluids and Thermodynamics

Read the lessons

Every lesson explanation in Physics I is free to read on the web. Practice questions and interactive scenes are in the app.

Calculus of a Single Variable

Chemistry

Computer Science

Linear Algebra and Geometry

Principles of Mechanics

Differential Equations and Vector Calculus

Multivariable Calculus

Principles of Electromagnetism and Optics

Principles of Laboratory Practice

Principles of Waves, Fluids and Thermodynamics

Frequently asked questions

Is Physics I free on Tryals?

Yes — you can start Physics I for free on iOS, Android and web. The lesson content is also open-source under a CC BY-SA licence on GitHub, so you can read it anywhere.

What topics does Physics I cover?

Single- and multivariable calculus, linear algebra, differential equations, classical mechanics, oscillations and waves, geometric and wave optics, electromagnetism, plus chemistry, computer science and laboratory practice — the full first-year foundation for a physics or engineering degree.

Do I need prior physics or maths knowledge?

No formal prerequisites beyond high-school mathematics. The early units build the calculus and linear algebra you need before the physics that uses them, so you can start from the beginning and work up.

What makes the questions interactive?

Many questions are interactive scenes: instead of picking a letter, you manipulate the diagram — drag a force vector, release a mass, change a field — and your answer is graded from what you did. The visual is the question, not decoration.

How is Physics I structured?

It is self-paced across its units of short lessons, each followed by practice questions with instant feedback. You can stop and resume anytime, and your progress is saved across devices.

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