dorsal/arxiv
View SchemaReal Time Relativity: exploration learning of special relativity
| Authors | C. M. Savage, A. Searle, L. McCalman |
|---|---|
| Categories | |
| ArXiv ID | physics/0701200 |
| URL | https://arxiv.org/abs/physics/0701200 |
| DOI | 10.1119/1.2744048 |
| Journal | American Journal of Physics 75, 791 (2007) |
Abstract
Real Time Relativity is a computer program that lets students fly at relativistic speeds though a simulated world populated with planets, clocks, and buildings. The counterintuitive and spectacular optical effects of relativity are prominent, while systematic exploration of the simulation allows the user to discover relativistic effects such as length contraction and the relativity of simultaneity. We report on the physics and technology underpinning the simulation, and our experience using it for teaching special relativity to first year university students.
{
"annotation_id": "ce22e515-582a-487f-b812-ad40853301b1",
"date_created": "2026-03-02T18:01:18.383000Z",
"date_modified": "2026-03-02T18:01:18.383000Z",
"file_hash": "a3e066b503dde094829e2f65f0d19fab883f8bdd2293cfba897cbdbc226b1991",
"private": false,
"record": {
"abstract": "Real Time Relativity is a computer program that lets students fly at\nrelativistic speeds though a simulated world populated with planets, clocks,\nand buildings. The counterintuitive and spectacular optical effects of\nrelativity are prominent, while systematic exploration of the simulation allows\nthe user to discover relativistic effects such as length contraction and the\nrelativity of simultaneity. We report on the physics and technology\nunderpinning the simulation, and our experience using it for teaching special\nrelativity to first year university students.",
"arxiv_id": "physics/0701200",
"authors": [
"C. M. Savage",
"A. Searle",
"L. McCalman"
],
"categories": [
"physics.ed-ph"
],
"doi": "10.1119/1.2744048",
"journal_ref": "American Journal of Physics 75, 791 (2007)",
"title": "Real Time Relativity: exploration learning of special relativity",
"url": "https://arxiv.org/abs/physics/0701200"
},
"schema_id": "dorsal/arxiv",
"source": {
"execution_id": "6930b0c1-19bd-4fbb-b3fb-a7cc3e19e13f",
"id": "arXiv Dataset IDs",
"type": "Model",
"variant": "snapshot-2026-03-01",
"version": "0.1.0"
},
"user_id": 1000002
}