PHY314 - Relativity & Cosmology
Welcome to the course web site. This course aims to introduce you to general relativity and its relationship to the observable Universe. Here is what the course handbook has to say about it:
The aim of this half module is to introduce the student to the ideas of relativistic cosmology. To achieve this aim, Einstein's theory of general relativity is introduced. We first study coordinate systems and transformations in Euclidean space, using familiar examples like plane polar coordinates in flat 2 dimensional space and slightly more exciting ones like physics on the surface of a sphere. We then review the principles of special relativity, with emphasis on the coordinate transformations between coordinate systems moving at constant velocities. Our discussion of general relativity begins with an introduction to the weak principle of equivalence. Next, we study some relativistic curved spaces, like the space surrounding a Schwarzschild black hole, and show how fascinating phenomena like the bending of light beams in a gravitational field, arise. Finally, we introduce the Friedman-Robertson-Walker model describing the expanding universe in which we live.
I aim to make this course as easy as I can, but inevitably it is quite mathematical. I do understand that mathematics is one of the more challenging aspects of Physics, especially to those just starting out, so I shall try and go through the necessary mathematics as slowly and as carefully as I can. There is a prerequisite requirement that you have taken either PHY206 or AMA331 as a prerequisite. Either of these courses should have given you some familiarity with the Lorentz transforms used to boost between the reference frames of different non-accelerating observers. It would be worthwhile to unearth your notes and look over this material, although I shall review it during the course.
Recommended Textbook
Students rarely buy books due to excessive prices, but if you do have a little money to spend on such things and you are interested by the subject matter of this course, then I would strongly recommend that you buy ‘Gravity - An Introduction to Einstein’s General Relativity’ by James Hartle. It is my third favourite Physics textbook on any subject. Although the text is a little too advanced for this course, I will try to follow his general strategy since I think it is particularly effective. There are several copies in the libraries, including Information Commons.
Other books that I have found useful in constructing the course are ‘A First Course in General Relativity’ by Bernard Schutz. Bernard has also written a less mathematical book, ‘Gravity from the Ground Up’, a readable and useful introduction to many aspects of gravitational physics.