Relativity and Spacetime introduces students to one of the most revolutionary ideas in modern physics: that measurements of space and time depend on the observer's frame of reference. Beginning with classical concepts of motion and reference frames, students explore the limitations of Newtonian physics and discover how Einstein's Special Theory of Relativity transformed our understanding of the universe. Through the study of time dilation, length contraction, Lorentz transformations, and Minkowski space-time diagrams, students develop both conceptual understanding and mathematical problem-solving skills. The course concludes by examining mass-energy equivalence, relativistic momentum, and the technological and scientific applications of relativity. By the end of the course, students will appreciate how Special Relativity underpins modern physics and prepares the way for future studies of General Relativity, cosmology, and particle physics.
- Leraar: Mr. Young