HPS 0410 Einstein for Everyone Spring 2012

This is an archived copy of the course material. Some links may not work.

Lectures

Stable, Archived version of chapters, January 1, 2013.

Assignments

 

Course Description

Schedule

Term paper

Clock

Sign in sheet

Title page, Preface and Table of Contents for Einstein for Everyone

Introduction: the questions

Special relativity: the basics

Special relativity: adding velocities

Special relativity: the relativity of simultaneity

Is special relativity paradoxical?

E=mc2

Origins of Special Relativity

Einstein's Pathway to Special Relativity

Spacetime

Spacetime and the Relativity of Simultaneity

Spacetime, Tachyons, Twins and Clocks

What is a four dimensional space like?

Philosophical Significance of the Special Theory of Relativity.

Euclidean Geometry: The First Great Science

Non-Euclidean Geometry: A Sample Construction

Spaces of Constant Curvature

Spaces of Variable Curvature

General Relativity

Gravity Near a Massive Body

Einstein's Pathway to General Relativity

Relativistic Cosmology

Big Bang Cosmology

Black Holes

A Better Picture of Black Holes

Atoms and the Quantum

Origins of Quantum Theory

Quantum Theory of Waves and Particles

The Measurement Problem

Einstein on the Completeness of Quantum Theory

Einstein as the Greatest of the Nineteenth Century Physicists

1. Principle of Relativity

2. Adding Velocities Einstein's Way

3. Relativity of Simultaneity

4. Origins of Special Relativity

5. Spacetime

6. Philosophical Significance

7. Non-Euclidean Geometry

8. Curvature

9. General Relativity

10. Relativistic Cosmology

11. Big Bang Cosmology

12. Black Holes

13. Origins of Quantum Theory

14. Problems of Quantum Theory

For documents relating to the Spring 2010 offering of this class, click here.
For documents relating to the Fall 2008 offering of this class, click here.
For documents relating to the Spring 2008 offering of this class, click here.
For documents related to the Spring 2007 offering of this class, click here.