Phy408, Introduction to Relativity, Spring 2010
Prof Edward Shuryak
(office: C139, phone 632-8127)

Home page is http://dau3.physics.sunysb.edu/html/relativity10_ad.html

Time Tu Th 9:50-11:10 (correction: the first lecture Feb.1st)

The main objective of the course is to introduce students to special and general relativity, their mathematical tools and physics applications The topics to be discussed:
  • math tools:
  • coordinate transformations
  • co and contravariant vector and tensors,
  • from Cartesian to general coordinates
  • Metric tensor
  • Minkowski space-time, invariants
  • general tenzors, covariant derivatives, curvature

  • special relativity
  • history
  • Maxwellian electrodynamics and Lorentz transformations
  • Einstein's theory: solution to paradoxes
  • addition of velocities: rapidity
  • 4-vectors of position, velocity and acceleration
  • 4-vectors of momentum, relativistic reactions
  • relativistic mechanics

  • general relativity
  • history
  • accelerated frames
  • geodesics
  • Schwartzschild solution and black holes
  • Expanding Universe
    • The course this time will be based on a newer book "A first course in General Relativity" by B.Schutz (second edition, cambridge U. press) (older book, R.Mould ``Basic Relativity", also includes all the material and has more problems, similar to those to be used for homeworks.)