HSC Relativity: The Nature of Light

Date: Friday 11 February 2022

Time: 1:30pm-2:20pm

Duration: 50 minutes

Location: Online Event - connect via Zoom or YouTube

This webinar is suitable for Year 12 physics leaners studying Module 7: The Nature of light.

Hosted by Dr Paul Payne and moderated by Sydney Observatory's Dr Andrew Jacob.

Is the speed of light (C) a constant in the vacuum of space? If not, what would the universe look like through Sydney Observatory's telescopes? Einstein’s Special Theory of Relativity is one of the most famous though counterintuitive theories in science. Using custom 3D visualisation software, learners will be introduced, step by step, to the origins of time dilation using Pythagoras’ simple theorem – no complicated mathematics required. They will explore space-time to see why simultaneous events are special, and even visualise the concept of length contraction.

This webinar includes pre- and post-activities developed by Dr Paul Payne, an astrophysicist with more than 30 years’ specialised teaching experience using an online WebGL based animated program.

Concise, illuminating and visually stunning, this experience should not be missed by any NSW physics student or their teachers.

A tailored session complete with HSC style questions and solutions can also be booked on demand at a time to suit any school's timetable for one class at a time. Follow this link for details.