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International Conference on Immersive Learning

iLRN 2019: Immersive Learning Research Network pp 16–29Cite as

Special Relativity in Immersive Learning

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Part of the book series: Communications in Computer and Information Science ((CCIS,volume 1044))

Abstract

In this paper, we discuss our development, implementation and evaluation of an interactive, real-time, and real-scale virtual reality application used to understand the theory of special relativity. Since special relativity deals with non-trivial counter-intuitive subjects such as the twin paradox and the Lorentz contraction, we utilize an immersive VR experience to visualize these phenomena. In doing so, we attempt to teach the theory of special relativity in a manner different than conventional abstract methods. In this study, we tested a set of participants and examined their understanding of special relativity theory before and after engaging with the VR experience. Using the results, we inspected for any correlations between their perceived immersion during and after the simulation and their acquisition of special relativity theory.

Our study has shown that visualizing the phenomena of special relativity in VR led to high immersion among participants and increased knowledge about the theory of special relativity. With this work, we hope to build upon the collective knowledge about the effects of learning in a strong, visually pronounced, and highly immersive environment.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, CA, USA

    Gregory Chu, Irene Humer & Christian Eckhardt

Authors
  1. Gregory Chu
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  2. Irene Humer
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  3. Christian Eckhardt
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Gregory Chu .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR, USA

    Dennis Beck

  2. British Telecom Research Labs, Ipswich, UK

    Anasol Peña-Rios

  3. University Libraries, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, USA

    Todd Ogle

  4. University of Westminster, London, UK

    Daphne Economou

  5. Computer Science, University of Westminster, London, UK

    Markos Mentzelopoulos

  6. Universidade Aberta, Coimbra, Portugal

    Leonel Morgado

  7. California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, CA, USA

    Christian Eckhardt

  8. Institute for Information Systems and Computer Media, Graz University of Technology, Graz, Steiermark, Austria

    Johanna Pirker

  9. Institute for Software Technology, Graz University of Technology, Graz, Steiermark, Austria

    Roxane Koitz-Hristov

  10. Salish Kootenai College, Pablo, MT, USA

    Jonathon Richter

  11. Institute for Information Systems and Computer Media, Graz University of Technology, Graz, Steiermark, Austria

    Christian Gütl

  12. University of Essex, Colchester , UK

    Michael Gardner

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Cite this paper

Chu, G., Humer, I., Eckhardt, C. (2019). Special Relativity in Immersive Learning. In: Beck, D., et al. Immersive Learning Research Network. iLRN 2019. Communications in Computer and Information Science, vol 1044. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-23089-0_2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-23089-0_2

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-030-23088-3

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-23089-0

  • eBook Packages: Computer ScienceComputer Science (R0)

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