Overview

Visualizations and model experiments. This site is about a visual and intuitive approach to the theory of relativity.

Visualizations:

What would it be like to experience relativistic effects oneself? E. g. to fly at nearly the speed of light and watch one's surroundings. Or to travel to the vicinity of a black hole and take a look-around.

Model experiments

Close to a black hole, space is curved – how can one picture this? (If bowling balls on rubber sheets now come to your mind – this is not what we mean!) Contrary to the well-known analogies used in popular science accounts, our models are visual aides, but at the same time stay close to the mathematical theory.

What do you not find here?

The basics of the special theory of relativity as explained in the schoolbooks. E. g. length contraction or the twin paradox.

What will you find in the future?

From time to time a new visualization. But primarily we are now extending the model experiment on curved space to a regular short introductory course to the general theory of relativity - with nearly no mathematics. Suitable for teaching advanced secondary school students or for a beginners' university class. And of course for self-instructed learners. "Wir basteln ein Schwarzes Loch" (in German) is the first step of this project.

Where should you best begin to read?

The material on this site is sorted into three subject areas. For each subject area, there is an overview: In it we briefly describe the subject, outline the content of each article and comment on the connections between the individual articles. Also, in each of the subject areas there are one or two main articles. They give an outline of the subject and are written in a non-mathematical way. Annotated links lead from the main articles to the other articles on the same or a related subject.

Visualization of special relativity