PHZ-4601/5606 Special and General Theories of Relativity
J.F. Owens
Office: 506 Keen
Phone: 644-4765
e-mail: Owens [at] hep.fsu.edu
Course Web page: www.physics.fsu.edu/courses/fall15/phz4601
The Special and General Theories of Relativity totally revised our understanding of how we measure length and time intervals. They predict phenomena which have been accurately verified in repeated experiments. Indeed, modern technological innovations such as the GPS system could not function without taking into account corrections to Newtonian mechanics which are specified by these theories. Modern particle physics relies on the use of relativistic kinematics for both the operation of large particle accelerators and the formulation of theories to describe the experimental results. General relativity is required for understanding the detailed nature of gravitational effects and for describing the large scale structure of the universe. Indeed, few areas of physics are not touched in some way by these theories.
In this course we will first review the formalism of Special Relativity and apply it to various examples. The theory will be formulated in a way which will help ease the transition to the General Theory. This theory is embodied in the Einstein Field Equations which are, in fact, easy to write down. However, they are generally quite difficult to solve and understanding the results of such calculations can be counterintuitive. Therefore, our approach will be first to study the physics underlying General Relativity and to examine some simple solutions of the field equations. We will then apply these ideas to black holes and then to aspects of cosmology. Finally, we will review the concepts needed to understand the structure of the field equations and will then write them down and solve them for some of the cases examined earlier in the course. We will end the course with a discussion of gravitational radiation.
The text chosen for the course is Relativity, Gravitation, and Cosmology: A Basic Introduction [2nd Edition] by Ta-Pei Cheng. Please note that there have been substantial additions to the second edition, so the first edition will not prove satisfactory. It is my intention (and hope) that we will cover most of the text during this semester.
The grading scheme for this course will be 30% for the final exam, 15% for the midterm, 45% on the course homework, and 10% for class participation. This latter category reflects class attendance, asking questions, and volunteering answers. The homework assignments will usually consist of 4 problems per set for those taking PHZ-4601 and 5 problems per set for those taking PHZ-5606. Those taking PHZ-4601 may attempt the additional problem for extra credit. I anticipate using the following grading scale: A (100-90) B(89-80) C(79-70) D(69-60) F(<60). Note that a significant portion of your grade will be determined by your performance on the homework. and that late homework will not be accepted unless some prior arrangement has been made with me. If you know that you will be absent on a day that an assignment is due, then you should make arrangements to turn it in early. In addition, class attendance is expected. Past experience has shown that students who do not attend class and do not do the homework invariably receive a poor grade. Accordingly, students with an excessive number of unexcused absences will be asked to withdraw from the course.
Course Objectives
Students who successfully complete this course should be able to
I encourage all of you to ask questions in class; indeed, it is often helpful to come to class with some questions in mind. You may also find it useful to stop by my office for discussions of questions which may take longer than the classroom time would allow. My general office hours will be Monday and Wednesday 11:00-12:00. However, I encourage you to contact me whenever you have questions -- you do not have to wait until the scheduled office hours, as I know that they may not be convenient for everyone! You may also find it convenient to contact me via e-mail here.
All class meetings will be in UPL 107 MWF 9:05 AM - 9:55 AM.
University Attendance Policy: Excused absences include documented illness, deaths in the family and other documented crises, call to active military duty or jury duty, religious holy days, and official University activities. These absences will be accommodated in a way that does not arbitrarily penalize students who have a valid excuse. Consideration will also be given to students whose dependent children experience serious illness.
Academic Honor Policy: The Florida State University Academic Honor Policy outlines the University's expectations for the integrity of students' academic work, the procedures for resolving alleged violations of those expectations, and the rights and responsibilities of students and faculty members throughout the process. Students are responsible for reading the Academic Honor Policy and for living up to their pledge to ". . . be honest and truthful and . . . [to] strive for personal and institutional integrity at Florida State University." (Florida State University Academic Honor Policy, found here.)
Americans With Disabilities Act: Students with disabilities needing academic accommodation should:
(1) register with and provide documentation to the Student Disability Resource Center; and
(2) bring a letter to the instructor indicating the need for accommodation and what type. This should be done during the first week of class.
This syllabus and other class materials are available in alternative format upon request. For more information about services available to FSU students with disabilities, contact the:
Student Disability Resource Center
874 Traditions Way
108 Student Services Building
Florida State University Tallahassee, FL 32306-4167
(850) 644-9566 (voice) (850) 644-8504 (TDD)
sdrc@admin.fsu.edu website