Art of Problem Solving
AoPS Online AoPS Online
Math texts, online classes, and more
for students in grades 5-12.
Visit AoPS Online ‚
Books for Grades 5-12 Online Courses
Beast Academy Beast Academy
Engaging math books and online learning
for students ages 6-13.
Visit Beast Academy ‚
Books for Ages 6-13 Beast Academy Online
AoPS Academy AoPS Academy
Small live classes for advanced math
and language arts learners in grades 2-12.
Visit AoPS Academy ‚
Find a Physical Campus Visit the Virtual Campus

Dive into learning adventures this summer with our math, science, and contest courses.  Enroll today!
How Classes Work
Course Catalog
Recommendations
Subject Courses
Before Prealgebra Ready for Prealgebra After Prealgebra Some Algebra 1 After Algebra 1 After Geometry After Algebra 2 After Precalculus Beyond Calculus
Contest Preparation
MATHCOUNTS/AMC 8 AMC 10 AMC 12 AIME USAMO
Computer Programming
Little or No Experience Some Experience Extensive Experience
Science Courses
Little or No Experience Some Experience Extensive Experience
Prospective Students & Parents
Math Jams
Need Help?

Need help finding the right class? Have a question about how classes work?

Click here to Ask AoPS!

Physics Seminar: 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? We will 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.

2 days
2 days  

Schedule



There are no classes currently scheduled.

Please sign up for our mailing list to be notified of new class offerings.

Join Mailing List

Who Should Take?

This course is for students interested in the basics of the mind-bending theory of special relativity. This course does not assume any physics knowledge and is intended for students interested in learning about a conceptually challenging theory of space and time. Students should have a basic competency with algebra before taking this course. We recommend having taken Introduction to Algebra A at AoPS or having the equivalent knowledge.

Lessons

Lesson 1 Principle of Relativity, Speed of Light, and Time Dilation
Lesson 2 Length Contraction, Simultaneity, and Paradoxes

As the first online course I've ever taken, I can say without doubt that it has been a tremendously great experience. I know that a lot people that took Intro to Number Theory were still in grade school, but taking it as a senior in high school, I still feel challenged and frankly I don't feel the same kind of embarrassment I feel in a normal classroom when I don't understand the material or want to ask a question. The instructor was extremely knowledgeable and enthusiastic about the subject which made it all the more motivating to learn. Props to AoPS for such excellent classes!