PHYS 418
Gravity
Spring 2016
Division III
Quantitative/Formal Reasoning
This is not the current course catalog
Class Details
This course is an introduction Einstein’s theory of general relativity. We begin with a review of special relativity, emphasizing geometrical aspects of Minkowski spacetime. Working from the equivalence principle, we then motivate gravity as spacetime curvature, and study in detail the Schwarzschild geometry around a spherically symmetric mass. After this application, we use tensors to develop Einstein’s equation, which describes how energy density curves spacetime. With this equation in hand we study the Friedmann-Robertson-Walker geometries for an expanding universe, and finally, we linearize Einstein’s equation to develop the theory of gravitational waves.
The Class:
Format: tutorial
Limit: 10/section
Expected: 10/section
Class#: 3238
Grading: no pass/fail option, no fifth course option
Limit: 10/section
Expected: 10/section
Class#: 3238
Grading: no pass/fail option, no fifth course option
Requirements/Evaluation:
evaluation will be based on weekly problem sets, tutorial participation, presentations, and a final exam, all of which have a substantial quantitative component
Extra Info:
may not be taken on a pass/fail basis; not available for the fifth course option
Prerequisites:
PHYS 301 or PHYS 405 or PHYS 411; students with strong math backgrounds are invited to consult with the instructor about a possible waiving of the prerequisites
Distributions:
Division III
Quantitative/Formal Reasoning
Class Grid
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HEADERS
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CLASSESColumn header 2DREQColumn header 3INSTRUCTORSColumn header 4TIMESColumn header 5CLASS#
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PHYS 418 - T1 (S) TUT Gravity
PHYS 418 - T1 (S) TUT GravityDivision III Quantitative/Formal ReasoningF 1:10 pm - 2:25 pm
Physics 1143238
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