Special and General Relativity, and an Introduction to Mathematical Methods in Physics
Physics 225, Fall 2016
Lecture (50 minutes): Loomis 151, Tuesdays at 4 pm
Discussion sections (110 minutes): Loomis 158, Wednesdays at 4 pm, 6 pm, 8 pm; Fridays at noon, 2 pm, 4 pm, 6 pm
2 credit hours
-
Week 1 and homework
Special relativity—time dilation and Lorentz contraction.
Lecture PowerPoint
-
Week 2 and homework
Special relativity—non-simultaneity; the Lorentz transformations.
Lecture PowerPoint
-
Week 3 and homework
The origin of the magnetic field as a consequence of special relativity.
Lecture PowerPoint
-
Week 4 and homework
Developing the mathematical tools of relativity—scalars, four vectors, Lorentz tensors, the metric tensor, covariant notation.
Lecture PowerPoint
-
Week 5 and homework
Doppler shifts, world lines, energy-momentum four vector.
Lecture PowerPoint
-
Week 6 and homework
Conservation laws, relativistic kinematics, and a start on dynamics.
Lecture PowerPoint
-
Week 7 and homework
Massless particles, relativistic dynamics, and the electromagnetic field.
Lecture PowerPoint
-
Week 8 and homework
An introduction to General Relativity—non-Euclidean geometry, the metric tensor, spacetime curvature.
Lecture PowerPoint
-
Week 9 and homework
The Riemann curvature tensor, the Einstein field equations, and the Schwarzschild metric.
Lecture PowerPoint
-
Week 10 and homework
Motion in curved spacetime.
Lecture PowerPoint
-
Week 11 and homework
Fields, fluids, line integrals, and curl.
Lecture PowerPoint
-
Week 12 and homework
Gradient, divergence, surface integrals, the divergence theorem, and Gauss’s law.
Lecture PowerPoint
-
Week 13 and homework
The Maxwell Equations.
Lecture PowerPoint
-
Week 14 and homework
A covariant formulation of electrodynamics.
Lecture PowerPoint
-
Week 15
Frame dragging, quantum field theory.
Lecture PowerPoint
Textbooks and so forth
There are no required texts for Physics 225. I am currently writing new material for the last two units of the course; the packet of materials for units 11 - 14 will be available at the university bookstore shortly. You must bring the course packet to all lectures and discussion sections.
If you do want to read about relativity in a text, consider borrowing "Spacetime Physics" by Taylor and Wheeler. I believe Grainger has them on reserve. Some people like "Special Relativity" by A. P. French, but I am not familiar with it. Past Physics 225 instructors have also suggested "Basic Training in Mathematics: A Fitness Program for Science Students" by R. Shankar.
