UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON-CLEAR LAKE
SYLLABUS – Summer 2011
PHYS 6132 General Relativity
TR 6:00-8:30PM Bayou 1213
INSTRUCTOR: David Garrison
OFFICE: BAYOU 3531-2
EMAIL: garrison@uhcl.edu
TELEPHONE: 281-283-3796
Course Description: Introduces Einstein's general theory of relativity, Riemann geometry, Black Holes, gravitational waves and Cosmology
Prerequisites: PHYS 5331 or equivalent
Textbooks: Spacetime and Geometry: An Introduction to General Relativity by Sean Carroll
Lecture Notes on General Relativity http://pancake.uchicago.edu/~carroll/notes/
gr-qc/9712019
Class Notes and Audio Files at:
http://sce.uhcl.edu/garrison/GR/
Policies:
1. Office Hours: TR 4:00-5:00 pm and by appointment
2. Measurements: One take-home exam and several problem sets
Date Percent
Problem Sets 50
Final Due August 4 50
3. Grading: The grade boundaries will be (whichever is lower):
A – 90% or more than one standard deviation above the mean
B – 80% or class average
C – 70% or one standard deviation below the mean
D – 65% or one and a half standard deviations below the mean
F – 60% or more than two standard deviations below the mean
Refined letter grade system, including “+” or “-“, will be used
4. Honesty Code: I will be honest in all my academic activities and will not tolerate dishonesty.
5. Make-ups: Make-up exams are not recommended. If you know ahead of time that you will be unable to attend an exam, please let me know in advance so that we can make other arrangements.
6. Disability Accommodation Statement: If you are certified as disabled and are entitled to accommodation under the ADA Act., sec 503, please see the instructor as soon as possible. If you are not currently certified and believe that you may qualify, please contact the Coordinator of Disabled Services, at 283-2627, in Health and Disability Services.
Lecture |
Topic |
Chapter(s) |
1-3 |
Math and Special
Relativity Review |
1 |
4-6 |
Manifolds |
2 |
7-8 |
Curvature |
3 |
9-11 |
Gravitation |
4 |
13-15 |
The Schwartzschild
Solution and Black Holes |
5,6 |
16-18 |
Gravitational Waves
and Cosmology |
7,8 |