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Learner Reviews & Feedback for Understanding Einstein: The Special Theory of Relativity by Stanford University

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3,158 ratings

About the 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!)....

Top reviews

SG

Mar 17, 2018

It was a good introductory course for the special theory of relativity. But being from an engineering background i wished it was a bit more quantitative but an excellent course nonetheless.

JK

Apr 2, 2017

I enjoyed this course very much. Professor Larry Randles Lagerstrom made a difficult subject easy to understand. Especially for a fellow who at 85 has forgotten a lot of what he learned in college.

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By federico g

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Nov 22, 2023

excellent

By Ahsan H

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Nov 11, 2022

excellent

By Vishwas D

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Aug 12, 2021

Brilliant

By Milla M V

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Aug 9, 2021

Loved it!

By Arpan A

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Jun 3, 2020

Noice!!!!

By Krassimir K

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Apr 2, 2019

Excellent

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Feb 23, 2019

Very Nice

By Zhiyang H

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Dec 22, 2018

excellent

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Dec 16, 2017

Awesome!

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Jun 8, 2021

Great!

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Oct 20, 2020

AWESOME

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Jun 27, 2021

Great!

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Apr 2, 2025

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Apr 13, 2022

cool

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Jun 11, 2020

Great

By Gourang C B

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Mar 23, 2019

goood

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Nov 22, 2017

great

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Oct 3, 2025

Good

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Sep 22, 2024

Good

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May 27, 2021

good

By SHAMPRANESH D

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Nov 10, 2018

Good

By Abhijeet G

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Nov 1, 2016

Yo

By Charles C

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Sep 16, 2021

R

By Kell B

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May 11, 2018

f