PC4248 Relativity

Semester II, 2004/05

Level: Honours

Prerequisite: PC3234 or PC3274 or Departmental Approval

Timetable: Monday and Thursday, 2-4 p.m., S12 04-10

Synopsis:

This module provides an introduction to the theories of special and general relativity. The topics covered are: relativistic kinematics and Lorentz transformations, the concept of spacetime, relativistic mechanics, homogeneous and inhomogeneous Lorentz groups; general tensor analysis, the Riemann tensor, the gravitational field equation, the Schwarzschild solution and experimental tests of general relativity. While this module is mainly targeted at physics majors, it is also suitable for science students with a strong mathematical foundation.

Textbooks:

• J. Foster and J.D. Nightingale, A Short Course in General Relativity Second Edition, Springer (1998) [NUS library]
• S. Weinberg, Gravitation and Cosmology John Wiley & Sons (1972) [NUS library]
• B.F. Schutz, A First Course in General Relativity Cambridge UP (1985) [NUS library]

Other good general references are:

• W. Rindler, Relativity: special, general, and cosmological Oxford UP (2001) [NUS library]
• R. D'Inverno, Introducing Einstein's Relativity Oxford UP (1992) [NUS library]
• G.F.R. Ellis and R.M. Williams, Flat and curved space-times Second Edition, Oxford UP (2000) [NUS library]
• W.G.V. Rosser, Introductory special relativity Taylor & Francis (1991) [NUS library]

Tutorials:

• Exercise 0 [pdf]
• Exercise 1 [pdf]
• Exercise 2 [pdf]
• Exercise 3 [pdf]
• Exercise 4 [pdf]
• Exercise 5 [pdf]

Past Year's Material:

• Test 1 [pdf]
• Test 2 [pdf]
• Exam [pdf]

Miscellaneous links:

• Relativity on the World Wide Web
• Relativity Bookmarks
• Gateway to Special Relativity
• Classic Tests of GR
• Detection of Gravitational Waves
• Orbits in Strongly Curved Spacetime