ESP Biography



RYAN NORMANDIN, MIT Alum Teaching Physics at Newton South




Major: Physics

College/Employer: MIT

Year of Graduation: 2013

Picture of Ryan Normandin

Brief Biographical Sketch:

My name is Ryan Normandin, and I graduated from MIT in 2013 with a BS in Course 8 (Physics) and a minor in Course 17 (Political Science). Having taught at Splash for five years, I now work as a physics teacher at Newton South High School. I also have a YouTube channel which produces physics content: NormandinEdu, http://www.youtube.com/user/NormandinEdu.

Sign up for ALL my classes and discover the many wonders of physics!



Past Classes

  (Clicking a class title will bring you to the course's section of the corresponding course catalog)

S8959: Why We Need Quantum Mechanics in Splash 2014 (Nov. 22 - 23, 2014)
Quantum mechanics is hailed as the revolutionary beginning of modern science, and is indeed the foundation behind lots of today's technology, from computers to glow sticks. Come and learn why, if it wasn't for quantum mechanics, we would all be dead.


S8961: Introduction to Special Relativity in Splash 2014 (Nov. 22 - 23, 2014)
This is the class that will throw everything you know out the window. Time travel is not only possible, scientists actually know how to do it! The Law of Conservation of Mass is a lie. Energy Conservation is another lie. From a four-dimensional point of view, you are a strand of spaghetti. Shrinking objects and warped time sounds like science fiction, but is actually the world we live in!


J8425: American Government Simulation in Junction 2014 (Jul. 07, 2014)
Become corrupt, impeach the President, start a war—the sky’s the limit! Or rather, the Constitution is, but even that can be amended…


S7378: Introduction to Special Relativity in Splash! 2013 (Nov. 23 - 24, 2013)
This is the class that will throw everything you know out the window. Time travel is not only possible, scientists actually know how to do it! The Law of Conservation of Mass is a lie. Energy Conservation is another lie. From a four-dimensional point of view, you are a strand of spaghetti. Come and learn how to not only time travel, but turn into a black hole while you’re at it!


S7730: Why We Need Quantum Mechanics in Splash! 2013 (Nov. 23 - 24, 2013)
Quantum mechanics is hailed as the revolutionary beginning of modern science, and is indeed the foundation behind lots of today's technology, from computers to glow sticks. Come and learn why, if it wasn't for quantum mechanics, we would all be dead.


S7731: The Physics of Climate Change in Splash! 2013 (Nov. 23 - 24, 2013)
You've probably heard that the world is getting warmer. Whether you follow all the latest news or don't even think its happening, this class will create from basic physics a model of the atmosphere that will produce the data used by the International Panel on Climate Change. Come and learn the dynamics behind global warming!


S7732: Physics of Alternative Energy Sources in Splash! 2013 (Nov. 23 - 24, 2013)
Come and learn about the cleaner, safer alternatives to fossil fuels! We'll examine the physics underlying solar energy, wind power, and nuclear, and you can decide which you think is best-positioned to be the energy of the future!


S7733: Why is the Sky Blue? in Splash! 2013 (Nov. 23 - 24, 2013)
This question tackles a question as old as time; why is the sky blue? Even if you have a general idea, this class will take your knowledge one step further. A rigorous, math-heavy analysis of why the sky is blue will leave you with no doubt that physics is awesome, and it's ability to model the world in which we live is incredible.


Z7735: Education Policy Discussion in Splash! 2013 (Nov. 23 - 24, 2013)
Come and learn something new about education policy in the country that you live in and discuss it with similarly interested peers! Led by a first-year teacher.


S7737: Paradoxes of Special Relativity in Splash! 2013 (Nov. 23 - 24, 2013)
Come and contemplate some of the strangest apparent paradoxes that result from the strange world of special relativity.


S6136: The Physics of Waves in Splash! 2012 (Nov. 17 - 18, 2012)
You've heard plenty about particles, but what about waves? Come and learn about the other half of physics as we derive the speed of light and explore how waves work!


S6137: Introduction to Special Relativity in Splash! 2012 (Nov. 17 - 18, 2012)
This is the class that will throw everything you know out the window. Time travel is not only possible, scientists actually know how to do it! The Law of Conservation of Mass is a lie. Energy Conservation is another lie. From a four-dimensional point of view, you are a strand of spaghetti. Come and learn how to not only time travel, but turn into a black hole while you’re at it! Note: One derivation at the very end will use a small amount of basic calculus.


S6138: The Physics of Climate Change in Splash! 2012 (Nov. 17 - 18, 2012)
You've probably heard that the world is getting warmer. Whether you follow all the latest news or don't even think its happening, this class will create from basic physics a model of the atmosphere that will produce the data used by the International Panel on Climate Change, come and learn the dynamics behind global warming!


S6139: Why We Need Quantum Mechanics in Splash! 2012 (Nov. 17 - 18, 2012)
Quantum mechanics is hailed as the revolutionary beginning of modern science, and is indeed the foundation behind lots of today's technology, from computers to glow sticks. Come and learn why, if it wasn't for quantum mechanics, we would all be dead.


M6140: Expanding the Binomial Theorem in Splash! 2012 (Nov. 17 - 18, 2012)
Pascal's Triangle is one of the most beautiful mathematical constructs in existence. It holds the key to expanding binomials, but what about polynomials with 3, 4, or 5 terms? Is there a pattern there? Come with your very best pattern-seeking skills as we attempt to develop a generalized theory for expanding polynomials!


S5850: Introduction to Special Relativity in Spark! 2012 (Mar. 10, 2012)
This is the class that will throw everything you know out the window. Time travel is not only possible, scientists actually know how to do it! The Law of Conservation of Mass is a lie. Energy Conservation is another lie. From a four-dimensional point of view, you are a strand of spaghetti. Come and learn how to not only time travel, but turn into a black hole while you’re at it!


S4954: Introduction to Special Relativity in Splash! 2011 (Nov. 19 - 20, 2011)
This is the class that will throw everything you know out the window. Time travel is not only possible, scientists actually know how to do it! The Law of Conservation of Mass is a lie. Energy Conservation is another lie. From a four-dimensional point of view, you are a strand of spaghetti. Come and learn how to not only time travel, but turn into a black hole while you’re at it!


S4955: Introduction to Special Relativity Part II (Advanced) in Splash! 2011 (Nov. 19 - 20, 2011)
More Special Relativity! More complicated concepts, including Lorentz diagrams.


S4618: Introduction to Special Relativity (Advanced) in Spark! 2011 (Mar. 12, 2011)
Right now, you probably believe silly ideas such as F=ma and conservation of mass. You probably think that right now is the only moment that exists. Allow me to empty your head of these foolish notions and learn how the universe REALLY works.


S3721: Introduction to Special Relativity in Splash! 2010 (Nov. 20 - 21, 2010)
This is the class that will throw everything you know out the window. Time travel is not only possible, scientists actually know how to do it! The Law of Conservation of Mass is a lie. Energy Conservation is another lie. From a four-dimensional point of view, you are a strand of spaghetti. Come and learn how to not only time travel, but turn into a black hole while you're at it!


S3260: An Introduction to Special Relativity and Quantum Mechanics in Spark! 2010 (Mar. 13, 2010)
Cats that are alive and dead at the same time, other realities where you were never born, and the Law of Conservation of Mass is a complete lie. Sound like a movie? Nope, it's the world we live in. Come and have everything you thought was logical flipped on its head as you are taken through the strange results of Einstein's Special Theory of Relativity, such as time dilation and black holes, along with the various interpretations of quantum mechanics, each one stranger than the next.