About This University Online Course:

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? About the instructor: Dr. Larry Lagerstrom is the Director of Academic Programs at Stanford University’s Center for Professional Development, which offers graduate certificates in subjects such as artificial intelligence, cyber security, data mining, nanotechnology, innovation, and management science. He holds degrees in physics, mathematics, and the history of science, has published a book and a TED Ed video on “Young Einstein: From the Doxerl Affair to the Miracle Year,” and has had over 30,000 students worldwide enroll in his online course on the special theory of relativity (this course!). You can visit more courses of Stanford for this visit Stanford University Courses.

Created by: Stanford University

Taught by: Larry Randles Lagerstrom, Academic Director

Online Course Syllabus:

The course is eight modules long and is designed to be completed in eight weeks.

WEEK 1

Introduction to the Course, and Einstein in Context

WEEK 2

Events, Clocks, and Reference Frames

WEEK 3

Ethereal Problems and Solutions

WEEK 4

The Weirdness Begins

WEEK 5

Spacetime Switches

WEEK 6

Breaking the Spacetime Speed Limit

WEEK 7

Paradoxes to Ponder

WEEK 8

To the Center of the Galaxy and Back

Understanding Einstein: The Special Theory of Relativity