Special Relativity: This Is Why You Misunderstand It

Does time really slow down when you move? What about gravitational fields? What's the resolution to the twin paradox and what's up with Newton's bucket. In this video, I tell you how it really works.

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00:00 Intro
00:34 Space+Time = Spacetime
04:30 Proper Time
07:59 Time Dilation
10:21 The Twin Paradox
13:59 Newton's Bucket
15:25 Time Slows Down Near Black Holes
19:30 Learn More on Brilliant

#physics

[MrVasile]

I always learn something from Dr. Sabine. Today one of the things I learned is that in Germany they teach the Pythagoras Theorem in kindergarten!

[treeinthewood]

Things I learned from this video: 1. Einstein obliterated the Minkowski bobblehead industry; 2. Physicists' humor doesn't exceed 45°; 3. Newton was concerned with buckets; 4. Flat earthers aren't entirely wrong; 5. Climbing a mountain can accelerate aging. Taking a selfie near a black hole can promote longevity, though.

[TheReaverOfDarkness]

I think your teaching style is great. I always understand things way better after watching your videos than anywhere else. And part of that is because on some of these topics, you're one of the few sources who actually seems to understand the subject in the first place.

[geoffreymilward]

What I particularly liked was your distinction between proper time and co-ordinate time. Thank you. It's really helped me understand geodesics in GR in a much more geometric way.

[mcwolfbeast]

Definitely a great, condensed description that is a lot less confusing and allowed me to grasp a few fundamental principles that eluded me so far because they were never explained to me in relation to each other. Thank you, Sabine!

[ChuckHenebry]

Those books you and I read 30 years ago were written in a style designed to maximize the reader's sense of wonder, because wonder (and a dash of incomprehension) is what sold books. What I love about your videos, Sabine, is that you never stoop to that cheap rhetorical trick. You're here to give us understanding, not gobbledygook.

[johnt.inscrutable]

This was so entertaining and elucidating as well. Sadly, what it elucidated for me was how little I fully understand these ideas. Though intuitively they seem to makes sense.

Thank you,
JTI

[LesCish]

I'd never seen an explanation of the twin paradox that made sense to me. Until now. Thank you!

[brilliantcosmicspeck]

Love your descriptions Sabine. You explain things very well. I have been sending your videos to my mom who, for some reason, is convinced she cannot understand science. Your videos are proving her notion wrong and she is getting interested in science. We now have something additional to talk about. Thank you Sabine !!

[jamesduncan]

Sabine's videos contain the most accurate and concise summations of these kinds of topics and I absolutely love it ❤️

[morenofranco]

Kerist! Sabine! This sounds like learning calculus at my father's desk. He was fun about everything EXCEPT math. That is when the beating and ear twisting started. I NEVER failed math at school. Failure=Pain. And today, 60 years later... I UNDERSTAND EXACTLY, what relationship you are describing. I love you.

[saimon]

I've seen so many explanations about twin paradox, but this is hands down the best, thanks!

[alex.pozgaj]

Wonderful! I saw 1000 videos about these topics already, and I thought to have quite a solid understanding of it sll, but this video really made it all fall into place!

"Acceleration is not relative" is so important, but I don't think I ever heard it before.

[morenofranco]

Sabine. All things are relative. My relatives are things. My relatives took all my things. And I love your work.

[robertgoss]

Dr. Hossenfelder: Your videos are among the best learning tools I have ever come across. I'm no physicist, but I think I have a pretty good layman's understanding of the theory of special relativity (far less so of the general theory). This video greatly helped me further grasp the special theory. Thank you for your many careful, and comprehensible, programs

[stevecreighton]

Sabine, you explain things with a clarity that only someone who completely understands the subject can do.

[alonamaloh]

I must have read the same incomprehensible books 30 years ago. I ended up becoming a mathematician and I never formally studied Relativity. This is far, far better. Thank you!

[gstlb]

“As we learned in kindergarten.” I have to quit watching these as I’m drinking my morning coffee 😂

[Dismythed]

This was the best video I have seen on the subject. So many people get caught up on the "move away from earth" diagram that they miss that it is about acceleration, not direction. Even slowing down is acceleration and the direction of movement does not matter is what so many science communicators fail to understand or fail to explain to their audience.

Thanks, Sabine.

[jandobbelsteen]

Nice video! That reminds me: in 2005, the Dutch astrophysicist Vincent Icke published a simple book: "Niks relatief, De speciale relativiteitstheorie zonder formules", which translates to "Nothing relative, Special Relativity without Formulas". It takes him only 70 pages to completely explain in layman's terms what it is all about. The nice thing about the book is, that if you flip it upside down and start reading from the back, you will have a book "Nothing Relative, Special Relativity WITH Formulas". This side only takes 63 pages. I'm sorry, I think it's never been translated into other languages than Dutch, but if you're German, you might be able to read it and understand it (according to a German colleague, you might have to read out loud).