The physical world: waves and relativity - for iPod/iPhone: Recent Episodes
The Open University
This album explores the science of waves. Five video tracks feature two pair trawling fishermen from the Cornish village of Looe. Their lives and livelihoods depend on gadgets like radio, GPS and radar. This album explores the physics behind this technology, gives a simple introduction to wavelengths and looks back to the discovery of electromagnetism and the invention of radio. To demonstrate just how vital waves are, the two captains turn off their modern communication tools and try traditional methods of keeping in touch. In addition, two bonus video tracks explore Newton's laws of motion and Einstein’s special theory of relativity, which give us our most basic insight into space and time. This material forms part of the course S207 The physical world.
Find out what makes a wave, how sound travels and how fishermen stayed in touch at sea before the invention of radio.
Transcript -- Find out what makes a wave, how sound travels and how fishermen stayed in touch at sea before the invention of radio.
Radio waves are the basis for our communications industry. The discovery of a link between electricity and magnetism led to the very first radio transmissions.
Transcript -- Radio waves are the basis for our communications industry. The discovery of a link between electricity and magnetism led to the very first radio transmissions.
Transcript -- The skippers take a closer look at each of the radio components, and how they work.
Sound, light, heat, radio, television and microwave. The universe contains more radiation than matter, in fact, we're surrounded by a sea of electromagnetic waves.
Transcript -- Sound, light, heat, radio, television and microwave. The universe contains more radiation than matter, in fact, we're surrounded by a sea of electromagnetic waves.
This famous theory connects time and motion. Presenter Robert Llewellyn and British athlete Kris Akabusi hit the track to show how speed actually slows down time.
Transcript -- This famous theory connects time and motion. Presenter Robert Llewellyn and British athlete Kris Akabusi hit the track to show how speed actually slows down time.
What happens when you fire a toy cannonball from a moving train set? This demonstration tests Newton's laws of motion, the starting point for Einstein's theory of relativity.
Transcript -- What happens when you fire a toy cannonball from a moving train set? This demonstration tests Newton's laws of motion, the starting point for Einstein's theory of relativity.