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Relativity

Imagine this: You can fit a 10 m pole in a barn half the size. Your twin is now 10 years older than you, but you didn't use a time machine. And no matter how fast you run, you can never reach the speed of light. How can you explain these scenarios? In this 5-hour, two day seminar, we use thought experiments like these and other tools to explore Einstein's theory of special relativity. We introduce Einstein's two postulates and explore the counterintuitive effects of time dilation, length contraction, and relativity of simultaneity. The class concludes with a look at spacetime diagrams and several challenging paradoxes of relativity.

4 days

4 days  

Schedule

Mon, Tue, Wed & Thurs
Jul 29 - Aug 1
7:30 - 9:00
PM ET
Jul 29 - Aug 1
7:30 - 9:00 PM Eastern
6:30 - 8:00 PM Central
5:30 - 7:00 PM Mountain
4:30 - 6:00 PM Pacific
Click here to see more time zones
$145
$145
ENROLL

AoPS Holidays

There are no classes May 25 ‐ 27, July 4, August 30 ‐ September 2, October 31, November 25 ‐ December 1, and December 21, 2024 ‐ January 3, 2025.

Lessons

Lesson 1 The Principle of Relativity
Lesson 2 The Speed of Light and Time Dilation
Lesson 3 Length Contraction and Simultaneity
Lesson 4 Paradoxes

I can say the class has prepared me substantially for mathematical studies and competitions in the future and provided a well-constructed introduction to higher-level algebra. I enjoyed interacting with the teacher on an intellectual level while he taught the class in an fun and creative way. In addition, the challenging problems students received weekly to complete as homework enhanced our problem solving skills. Overall, this class has been an amazing experience for me, and I can't wait to see what AoPS has in store next!