Suggested preparation: Introductory physics, calculus and some relativity.
About this course
Explore black holes and cosmology through relativity and astrophysical examples. The lectures connect gravitational theory with cosmic structure and the physical questions raised by extreme environments.
Topics and lesson examples
- 1. Introduction to the Class
- 2. The Universe: Questions You Were Afraid to Ask
- 5. Einstein's Field Equations
- 8. X-Ray Binaries and the Search for Black Holes
- 13. Cosmic Structure Formation; From Inflation to Galaxies
Course at a glance
| Provider | MIT |
|---|---|
| Platform | YouTube · MIT OpenCourseWare |
| Access | Free Video |
| Level | Intermediate — WikiFree study-level assessment |
| Language | English |
| Available lessons | 6 |
| Video duration | 6h 34m · self-paced |
| Details checked | 10 October 2026 |
Preparation and study approach
Suggested preparation: Introductory physics, calculus and some relativity.
Follow the available videos in sequence, pausing to summarize the main argument or reconstruct a worked example. Keep a short list of assumptions, unfamiliar terms and questions to revisit. Additional reading, problem solving and practice will take time beyond the listed video duration.
Using this video classroom
Select a lesson from the list, or search for a topic. Previous and Next move through the sequence. You can mark lessons complete; progress is stored in this browser without a WikiFree account.
Free access and course scope
The public MIT OpenCourseWare videos in this classroom are free to watch. This listing provides the available playlist recordings, which may include selected lectures, recitations, demonstrations or supporting discussions rather than every component of the original campus course. Textbooks, equipment, software licenses, supervised labs, graded assignments and instructor feedback are not supplied by WikiFree. No purchase is required to watch the videos or use the note-based study approach above.
WikiFree independently organizes these resources for self-paced study. Watching does not award an MIT certificate, academic credit or admission to MIT.
Video provider and credit: MIT OpenCourseWare on YouTube. WikiFree titles, descriptions and cover artwork are independently prepared.
Related courses for your next step
- Explore a higher-level optionFree MIT Course: Cosmology and the Early Universe
Focus: 1. Inflationary Cosmology: Is Our Universe Part of a Multiverse? Part I · 6. The Dynamics of Homogeneous Expansion, Part II
Professional - Compare another approachFree MIT Course: Astrophysics and the Origin of Chemical Elements
Focus: Ep. 1: Introduction and Overview (RES.8-007 Cosmic Origin of the Chemical Elements) · Ep. 3: Early Chemical Evolution
Intermediate - Add a related skillFree MIT Course: General Relativity and Gravitational Physics
Focus: 1. Introduction and the geometric viewpoint on physics. · 6. The principle of equivalence.
Professional
Compare course focus, level and study time
| Course | Level | Focus | Study time |
|---|---|---|---|
| This course — Free MIT Course: Black Holes and Relativistic Astrophysics | Intermediate | 1. Introduction to the Class · 2. The Universe: Questions You Were Afraid to Ask · 5. Einstein's Field Equations | 6h 34m of video; practice time is additional |
| Free MIT Course: Cosmology and the Early Universe | Professional | 1. Inflationary Cosmology: Is Our Universe Part of a Multiverse? Part I · 6. The Dynamics of Homogeneous Expansion, Part II · 12. Non-Euclidean Spaces: Open Universes and the Spacetime Metric | 28h 52m of video; practice time is additional |
| Free MIT Course: Astrophysics and the Origin of Chemical Elements | Intermediate | Ep. 1: Introduction and Overview (RES.8-007 Cosmic Origin of the Chemical Elements) · Ep. 3: Early Chemical Evolution · Ep. 6: Element Production (Fusion) -- Part 1 | 1h 10m of video; practice time is additional |
| Free MIT Course: General Relativity and Gravitational Physics | Professional | 1. Introduction and the geometric viewpoint on physics. · 6. The principle of equivalence. · 12. The Einstein field equation. | 30h 22m of video; practice time is additional |
Provider: MIT. Videos play from the MIT OpenCourseWare channel on YouTube.
Report a correction
Questions & discussion
Share a useful question or correction. Comments appear after moderation. Please avoid personal or sensitive information.