UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON-CLEAR LAKE
SYLLABUS – Summer 2017
PHYS 4333 Special Relativity
MTWR 03:00 – 05:50PM BAYOU 3615
INSTRUCTOR: David Garrison
OFFICE: BAYOU 3531-2
EMAIL: garrison@uhcl.edu
TELEPHONE: 281-283-3796
Course Description: Introduces Einstein's special and general theory of relativity using tensor algebra. Introduction to tensor math.
Prerequisites: Classical Mechanics
Textbooks: Introduction to Spacetime: A First Course on Relativity, Bertel Laurent
Introducing Einstein’s Relativity, Ray D’Inverno
Policies:
1. Office Hours: MTWR 2:00-3:00 pm and by appointment
2. Measurements: four weekly take-home problem sets
Date Percent
Problem Sets (4) 100
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.
7. Learning Outcomes:
Upon Completion of this course, students will be able to:
· Understand the History and thought process leading to the development of Special and General Relativity
· Solve problems involving Lorentz Transformations
· Solve problems involving Tensor Analysis
· Solve basic problems involving General Relativity
Week |
Topic |
Chapter(s) |
1 |
Special Relativity |
L 1-7, D 1-4 |
2 |
Tensors |
L 8-11, D 5-7 |
3 |
General Relativity |
D 8-10 |
4 |
Applications of
General Relativity |
D 15, 16, 20, 23 |