C739: Space, Time and Motion

C739 Space, Time and Motion is a graduate course at Western Governors University that traces physics from the ancient Greeks through Galileo and Newton to Einstein, then studies relativity and the quantum world.

WGU's M.A. Science Education (Secondary Physics) program guide lists it at three competency units in term three. The guide describes Einstein's work as the departure point for studying motion, time, space, matter and energy, including special and general relativity, the photon hypothesis, wave-particle duality, astrophysics and cosmology.

The course also considers Einstein as a social and political figure. Students find the ideas counterintuitive, and the challenge is explaining them accurately enough to teach.

What C739 Covers

The program guide's competencies include:

The description also mentions energy production in stars, black holes, the Big Bang and the role of the scientist in society.

Key Concepts Explained

Time Dilation

Special relativity says a moving clock runs slow relative to an observer. The factor is γ = 1 / √(1 - v²/c²).

Mass-Energy Equivalence

E = mc² shows that a small mass corresponds to a vast amount of energy, which explains the energy output of nuclear reactions and of stars.

Wave-Particle Duality

Einstein's explanation of the photoelectric effect treated light as photons with energy E = hf. Electrons ejected from a metal depend on the light's frequency, not its brightness, which a pure wave model cannot explain. Matter also shows wave behavior, as electron diffraction demonstrates.

General Relativity

General relativity describes gravity as the curvature of space-time by mass and energy. It predicts the bending of light by the Sun, gravitational time dilation and black holes, all since supported by observation.

Typical Assignments and How to Approach Them

WGU assesses competency through performance assessments or objective assessments; check your course page for the current format. Typical work in this subject includes:

Teaching These Ideas

Because the program prepares physics teachers, explanations should work for secondary students. Thought experiments are powerful: Einstein's train and lightning strikes for simultaneity, the light clock for time dilation and the accelerating lift for the equivalence principle.

Real applications make abstract ideas concrete. GPS satellites must correct for both special and general relativistic effects on their clocks, and the photoelectric effect underlies solar cells and light sensors.

Where Students Get Stuck

• Everyday intuition. Relativity contradicts common sense. Trust the postulates and follow the logic.
• Reference frames. Always state which observer is measuring what.
• Units and powers of ten. Scientific notation errors are the most common calculation mistakes.
• History without physics. When discussing Galileo, Newton or Einstein, explain the idea each contributed, not just the biography.

Study Tips for C739

• Keep a sheet of key equations with units and one example each.
• Draw space-time diagrams for special relativity problems.
• Explain each competency in plain words before using equations.
• Link topics to observations: eclipses, GPS, the photoelectric effect and stellar energy.

How We Help with C739

Send the task, rubric and any feedback. A physics tutor prepares worked calculations, clear conceptual explanations or teaching-ready analogies, or reviews your draft for accuracy. For broader support across your teaching program, see our education assignment help guide.

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