Walter Lewin's MIT Lectures

A high‑energy invitation into Walter Lewin’s legendary MIT physics lectures—pure intuition, laser‑clear demos, and a front‑row seat to how physics actually feels.

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Introduction

There are physics lectures, and then there are Walter Lewin lectures. These are the ones that feel like a live experiment strapped to a theory engine—fast, funny, and impossibly clear. If you want to feel Newton’s laws and watch electromagnetism come alive, start here.

Watch the full lecture series on MIT OpenCourseWare:
https://ocw.mit.edu/search/?q=Walter%20Lewin

Why Watch Walter Lewin?

  • Unforgettable demonstrations: Lewin’s classes are famous for real, in-class stunts—swinging from pendulums, launching projectiles, and electrifying (safely!) his own body to prove a point.
  • Intuitive explanations: Concepts aren’t just defined; they’re felt. His analogies and visual aids make abstract physics immediate and tangible.
  • Passion and humor: His excitement is infectious. Expect dry jokes, surprises, and a sense that physics is a playground for the mind.

Lecture Highlights

1. Classical Mechanics (8.01)

  • Newton’s Laws—why things move, and why they stop.
  • Energy conservation with wild demos (including the famous human pendulum).
  • Rotational motion, orbits, and gravity explained with clarity and drama.

2. Electricity and Magnetism (8.02)

  • Visualizing the invisible: electric fields, currents, and circuits brought to life.
  • Demos: giant sparks, capacitors, and magnetic levitation.
  • Maxwell’s equations made accessible (and relevant!).

3. Vibrations and Waves (8.03)

  • From sound to light—how oscillations explain our world.
  • Vivid experiments with standing waves, resonance, and even musical instruments.

How to Get the Most from These Lectures

  • Pause and predict: Before each demo, hit pause and try to guess the outcome.
  • Try the math: Lewin excels at deriving key formulas—follow along with a notebook.
  • Relive the excitement: If you’re stuck, revisit the demos. Physics intuition builds with repetition.
  • Supplemental reading: MIT OCW provides lecture notes and problem sets if you want to go deeper.

Favorite Lewin Quotes

“The beauty of physics is seeing the unexpected expected.”
“If you miss a problem on an exam, at least you’ll remember the formula forever!”

Whether you’re learning physics for the first time or returning for inspiration, Walter Lewin’s lectures are a masterclass in seeing the world differently.

Happy learning!

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