Suggested preparation: Mechanics, calculus and differential equations.
About this course
Study vibrations and waves through oscillation, wave equations, Fourier ideas and electromagnetic examples. MIT lectures and supporting recordings connect physical intuition with mathematical models.
Topics and lesson examples
- 8.03SC Physics III: Vibrations and Waves Introduction
- 8. Translation Symmetry
- 17. Polarization, Polarizer
- Making Time for Individual Questions in a Large Lecture
- Tips for Physics Educators
Course at a glance
| Provider | MIT |
|---|---|
| Platform | YouTube · MIT OpenCourseWare |
| Access | Free Video |
| Level | Intermediate — WikiFree study-level assessment |
| Language | English |
| Available lessons | 36 |
| Video duration | 30h 45m · self-paced |
| Details checked | 10 October 2026 |
Preparation and study approach
Suggested preparation: Mechanics, calculus and differential equations.
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
- Related learningFree MIT Course: Vibrations and Waves Problem-Solving Practice
Focus: 1. Simple Harmonic Motion & Problem Solving Introduction · 3. Driven Harmonic Oscillators
Intermediate - Related learningFree MIT Course: Signals and Systems
Focus: 1. Signals and Systems · 7. Discrete Approximation of Continuous-Time Systems
Intermediate - Related learningFree MIT Course: Optics: Imaging, Diffraction and Wave Propagation
Focus: Design of a Cooke Triplet · Holographic Particle Image Velocimetry
Intermediate
Compare course focus, level and study time
| Course | Level | Focus | Study time |
|---|---|---|---|
| This course — Free MIT Course: Physics of Vibrations and Waves | Intermediate | 8.03SC Physics III: Vibrations and Waves Introduction · 8. Translation Symmetry · 17. Polarization, Polarizer | 30h 45m of video; practice time is additional |
| Free MIT Course: Vibrations and Waves Problem-Solving Practice | Intermediate | 1. Simple Harmonic Motion & Problem Solving Introduction · 3. Driven Harmonic Oscillators · 5. Traveling Waves without Damping | 10h 4m of video; practice time is additional |
| Free MIT Course: Signals and Systems | Intermediate | 1. Signals and Systems · 7. Discrete Approximation of Continuous-Time Systems · 13. Continuous-Time (CT) Feedback and Control, Part 2 | 20h 23m of video; practice time is additional |
| Free MIT Course: Optics: Imaging, Diffraction and Wave Propagation | Intermediate | Design of a Cooke Triplet · Holographic Particle Image Velocimetry · Holographic Tomography | 32h 57m of video; practice time is additional |
Provider: MIT. Videos play from the MIT OpenCourseWare channel on YouTube.
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