SCHEDULE
MTH 437/537 — Spring 2017


This is a rough schedule showing which topic we will cover when. All dates are subject to change.
Most topic links refer to my book on general relativity; others refer to my books on special relativity and differential forms. Each of the links above points to the wiki version of the book, which is not quite the same as the published version.

(last update 6/5/17)

  Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri
Week 1
(Apr)
3    Line Elements
Circle Geometry
Hyperbola Geometry
4
 
 
5
Geometry of SR
 
6
 
 
7
Physics of SR
 
Week 2
(Apr)
10
Geodesics
Examples of Geodesics
11
 
 
12
Symmetries
Polar/Spherical
13
 
 
14
Physics of GR
 
Week 3
(Apr)
17
Schwarzschild Metric
Properties, Geodesics
18
 
 
19
Orbits
 
20
 
 
21
Circular Orbits
Null Orbits
Week 4
(Apr)
24
Radial Geodesics
 
25
 
 
26
Rain Coordinates
 
27
 
 
28
Observers
Rain Coordinates
Week 5
(May)
1    Rindler Geometry
Rindler Geodesics
Extending Rindler
2
 
 
3
Extending Schwarzschild
Kruskal Geometry
4
 
 
5
Review
 
Week 6
(May)
8
Midterm
9
 
10
Penrose Diagrams
11
 
12
Go over midterm
Week 7
(May)
15
Tidal Forces
Geodesic Deviation
16
 
 
17
Matter
Dust
18
 
 
19
Einstein Equation I
Conservation Laws
Week 8
(May)
22    Einstein Tensor
Einstein Equation II
Cosmological Constant
23
 
 
24
Birkhoff's Theorem
 
25
 
 
26
Constant Curvature
Robertson-Walker Metrics
Week 9
(May/June)
29
Memorial Day
 
30
 
 
31
The Big Bang
Friedmann Models I, II
1
 
 
2    Missing Matter
Standard Models
Cosmological Redshift
Week 10
(Jun)
5
Dark Matter
Gödel Universe
6
 
 
7
Charged Black Holes
Rotating Black Holes
8
 
 
9
Alcubierre Warp Drive
Null Shells of Matter
Finals
(Jun)
12
 
13
 
14
 
15
 
16