In this course we will seek to “understand Einstein,” especially focusing on the special theory of relativity that Albert Einstein, as a twenty-six year old patent clerk, introduced in his “miracle year” of 1905. Our goal will be to go behind the myth-making and beyond the popularized presentations of relativity in order to gain a deeper understanding of both Einstein the person and the concepts, predictions, and strange paradoxes of his theory. Some of the questions we will address include: How did Einstein come up with his ideas? What was the nature of his genius? What is the meaning of relativity? What’s “special” about the special theory of relativity? Why did the theory initially seem to be dead on arrival? What does it mean to say that time is the “fourth dimension”? Can time actually run more slowly for one person than another, and the size of things change depending on their velocity? Is time travel possible, and if so, how? Why can’t things travel faster than the speed of light? Is it possible to travel to the center of the galaxy and return in one lifetime? Is there any evidence that definitively confirms the theory, or is it mainly speculation? Why didn’t Einstein win the Nobel Prize for the theory of relativity?
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Comprendre Einstein : la théorie de la relativité restreinte
Université de StanfordÀ propos de ce cours
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Université de Stanford
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is an American private research university located in Stanford, California on an 8,180-acre (3,310 ha) campus near Palo Alto, California, United States.
Programme de cours : ce que vous apprendrez dans ce cours
Introduction to the Course, and Einstein in Context
Week 1: Introduction to the Course, and Einstein in Context
Events, Clocks, and Reference Frames
Week 2: Events, Clocks, and Reference Frames
Ethereal Problems and Solutions
Week 3: Ethereal Problems and Solutions
The Weirdness Begins
Week 4: The Weirdness Begins
Avis
- 5 stars90,53 %
- 4 stars8,14 %
- 3 stars0,76 %
- 2 stars0,21 %
- 1 star0,32 %
Meilleurs avis pour COMPRENDRE EINSTEIN : LA THÉORIE DE LA RELATIVITÉ RESTREINTE
professor Lagerstrom, through his patience and teaching gave me actual feeling of what is going on. The course has given a foundation from which a more in depth studies can be built upon.
It was a good introductory course for the special theory of relativity. But being from an engineering background i wished it was a bit more quantitative but an excellent course nonetheless.
Instructor made the course very enjoyable, easy to understnad for the non-technical person, very interesting and eye opening. I now have a much more humble regard of our place in the universe. Wow!
Thank you so much for taking the time to do this. The knowledge I have gained is something that I will treasure and will propel me to keep studying and trying to understand our wonderful universe.
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