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Learn Quantum Physics

Learn what quantum mechanics actually says, minus the pop-science myths.

Free to start. Built from a single prompt. No credit card.

Quantum physics describes nature at the scale of atoms, electrons and photons, where energy comes in discrete steps, particles behave like waves and outcomes are predicted as probabilities. It is famous for being strange, yet it is also among the most precisely tested theories in physics and the basis of lasers, transistors and MRI. The honest path runs through the experiments that forced it into existence and then through its math: complex numbers, wavefunctions and linear algebra. Learnr builds a personalized quantum physics course from a single prompt and teaches it in short, interactive lessons.

How to learn Quantum Physics, step by step

Start with the experiments that broke classical physics. Study blackbody radiation and Planck's quanta, the photoelectric effect and E = hf, the discrete spectral lines of hydrogen and the double slit experiment done one electron at a time. Each result rules out a classical explanation.
Build the math toolkit before the formalism. Get comfortable with complex numbers and Euler's formula, derivatives and simple differential equations, and vectors, matrices and eigenvalues. Quantum mechanics is written in this language, and gaps here are the main thing that stalls learners.
Learn the wavefunction and the Born rule. The squared magnitude of the wavefunction gives a probability density. Practice normalizing a wavefunction, finding the probability of a particle in a region, and computing expectation values of position and momentum.
Solve the standard model problems. Work the infinite square well, where energies grow with n squared, the harmonic oscillator with its evenly spaced levels, and tunneling through a barrier. These few solutions explain atoms, molecular vibrations and the scanning tunneling microscope.
Understand measurement and uncertainty. Learn that observables are operators and measurement results are their eigenvalues. Use the Stern-Gerlach experiment and spin one-half as the cleanest two-state system, and see how non-commuting operators lead to the uncertainty principle.
Finish with entanglement and quantum computing. Study Bell states and what Bell test experiments rule out, then qubits and simple quantum gates. Short daily Learnr reviews keep the earlier math and concepts available while you take on these harder ideas.

What you'll learn

Explain the experiments that forced quantum theory, from the photoelectric effect to the double slit
Use a wavefunction and the Born rule to calculate probabilities
Solve the particle in a box and interpret its quantized energy levels
State and apply the Heisenberg uncertainty principle correctly
Describe spin, superposition and entanglement without common misconceptions

What's inside your Quantum Physics course

A sample path Learnr builds for Quantum Physics. Your real course adapts to your goal and level.

1. Why classical physics broke down
2. Photons, matter waves and wave-particle duality
3. The wavefunction and the Schrodinger equation
4. Bound states: the box, the oscillator and the hydrogen atom
5. Operators, measurement and uncertainty
6. Spin, entanglement and quantum information

How long does it take to learn Quantum Physics?

A conceptual understanding takes about 1 to 2 months at a few hours a week. Solving Schrodinger equation problems at the level of a first undergraduate course usually takes 4 to 8 months at 5 to 8 hours a week, assuming you already know calculus and some linear algebra.

What you need before you start

For a conceptual course, high school physics and algebra. For the real mathematics, calculus, basic differential equations, linear algebra and introductory mechanics and waves.

Common mistakes to avoid

Believing measurement needs a conscious observer. In quantum mechanics a measurement is any interaction that records information, such as a detector registering a particle.
Thinking entanglement lets you send messages faster than light. Correlations appear only when results are compared, which requires an ordinary signal.
Avoiding the math entirely, or diving into it without linear algebra. Both leave you with slogans instead of understanding, so build the math alongside the concepts.

How Learnr builds your course

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Quantum Physics questions, answered

Can I learn quantum physics without math?

You can learn the key experiments and concepts with only algebra. To actually calculate and understand the theory deeply, you need calculus, complex numbers and linear algebra.

Is quantum physics the same as quantum mechanics?

Mostly. Quantum mechanics usually means the core theory of wavefunctions and operators, while quantum physics is the broader field that also includes quantum field theory and applications like quantum optics.

What math do I need for quantum mechanics?

Calculus including partial derivatives, complex numbers, basic differential equations and linear algebra, especially eigenvalues and eigenvectors. Probability basics help with interpreting results.