The Einstein Theory of Relativity: a 1923 Silent Animated Film

by Socrates on December 28, 2011

The Einstein Theory of Relativity is a 20 minute silent black and white animated film. It was produced in 1923 by the Fleischer Studios, best known for their Betty Boop cartoons.

The film aims to explain Albert Einstein’s Theory of Relativity to anyone willing to invest 20 minutes in watching the movie. Though it is almost a hundred years old, its simple but ingenious animation is very effective in demystifying Einstein’s theory without the need of advanced physics or mathematics.

The movie starts by examining the meaning behind the term relativity and how it relates to the general theory. It then proceeds to demonstrate how things such as motion, direction, size, speed and time are all relative to the observer’s point of view or the general frame of reference.

In fact, all measurement is relative and space is bent…

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Tagged as: Einstein, Theory of Relativity

  • http://cmstewartwrite.wordpress.com/ CMStewart

    Thanks for posting this vintage gem. I wonder what Einstein would have to say about the radical scientific ideas of today. Perhaps someday we can ask him.

  • Dr. Ronald Cutburth

    There is a common error by non science reporters. This video is about “General Relativity”. Einstein did not invent that. Einstein invented “Special Relativity”. General relativity is in the basis of Newton’s fundamental laws of mechanics. It is also found written about by Emanuel Kant in 1781 in his book “Critique of Pure Reason” , and others.  This video goes on to show all sorts of technological developments which were made possible by other inventors who use Newton’s laws, and laws of other physicists  to develop them. Einstein was a brilliant man. He did not try to claim all of the technology that others have developed.

    Dr. Ronald Cutburth, Ph.D., Management of Engineering Science Operations., Engineering Scientist, inventor, author. 

  • http://cmstewartwrite.wordpress.com/ CMStewart

    Thank you for clearing that up. I wondered when the video would get to E=MC2. Great video nonetheless.

  • Adriano_viii

    Dear Dr. Ronald Culburth… forgive me if I’m wrong. The video shows also the idea of an absolute speed of light, time being relative and space being “courved”. Were these elements in Newton’s or Kant’s theories as well? – I thought they weren’t. As far as I knew, the idea of the absolute speed of light was part of the “Special Relativity”.

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