Lecture 1 | Modern Physics: Special Relativity (Stanford)

Lecture 1 of Leonard Susskind's Modern Physics course concentrating on Special Relativity. Recorded April 14, 2008 at Stanford University.

This Stanford Continuing Studies course is the third of a six-quarter sequence of classes exploring the essential theoretical foundations of modern physics. The topics covered in this course focus on classical mechanics. Leonard Susskind is the Felix Bloch Professor of Physics at Stanford University.

Complete Playlist for the Course:
http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=CCD6C043FEC59772

Stanford Continuing Studies:
http://continuingstudies.stanford.edu/

About Leonard Susskind:
http://www.stanford.edu/dept/physics/people/faculty/susskind_leonard.html

Stanford University Channel on YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/stanford

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Physics
• math
• calculus
• geometry
• algebra
• theoretical
• minimum
• special
• relativity
• classical
• field
• theory
• reference
• frame
• uniform
• velocity
• Newton
• Laws
• of
• nature
• speed
• light
• wave
• maxwell
• space
• time
• Einstein
• hyperbolic
• functions
• cos

[brooksguillory]

"I'm a generic highschooler thinking that bragging about what classes I'm taking actually matters to anyone else."

[cubeloveme33]

can someone tell me if i should watch these videos? i wanna learn about relativity but im a high school student. i finished ap ficix and ap calc already and right now im taking calc bc. but will i be able to learn everything in this course? someone helps please!

[vusiliyK]

Good gravy this is complicated to me.

[boostincoyote]

@cubeloveme33 wtf is "ap ficix"?

[VerumAdNauseam]

The speed of light is an optical illusion.

[ThePwnTheory]

@cubeloveme33 No, you suck.

[TheLiz217217]

"Susskind the plumber" and black holes. This guy is good.

[2eelShmeal]

You should post this as a response to the annoying orange. =O

[UniverseOffspring]

@brooksguillory So that's what he was tying to say?

[269Cristo]

I like your comment. But wasn't the ptolamaic system mathematically accurate? But does the sun revolve around the earth? can we not measure the relative motion of a train by assuming the platform is moving? yes. but try to get to SF from NY with it.it depends on what questions you want answered and which answers can answer more questions. i think the point of a scientific theory depends on what you think science is and that is a philsophical question thanx for the comment

[ilovelamp86]

John Malkovich teaches at Stanford?

[basilf1]

@cubeloveme33 I don't know what others have said, but a lecture like this is not the best place to learn about relativity. I would suggest a book like: Six Not-So-Easy Pieces by Feynmann. I don't think he talks about relativity in the easy pieces book. However, I don't want to dissuade you. You'll get something from these lectures. It is unlikely that it will be very much. Finally, if you have any questions you can send me a message. I have a B.Sc in physics and math.