SCHEDULE
MTH 437/537 — Spring 2019


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 5/29/19)

  Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri
Week 1
(Apr)
1    Line Elements
Circle Geometry
Hyperbola Geometry
2
 
 
3
Geometry of SR
 
4
 
 
5
Physics of SR
 
Week 2
(Apr)
8
Geodesics
Examples of Geodesics
9
 
 
10
Symmetries
Polar/Spherical
11
 
 
12
No class
 
Week 3
(Apr)
15
Schwarzschild Metric
Properties, Geodesics
16
 
 
17
Orbits
 
18
 
 
19
Circular Orbits
Null Orbits
Week 4
(Apr)
22
Radial Geodesics
 
23
 
 
24
Rain Coordinates
 
25
 
 
26
Observers
Rain Coordinates
Week 5
(Apr/May)
29    Rindler Geometry
Rindler Geodesics
Extending Rindler
30
 
 
1
Extending Schwarzschild
Kruskal Geometry
2
 
 
3
Penrose Diagrams
 
Week 6
(May)
6
Review
7
 
8
Midterm
9
 
10
Go over midterm
Week 7
(May)
13
Tidal Forces
Geodesic Deviation
14
 
 
15
Matter
Dust
16
 
 
17
Einstein Equation I
Conservation Laws
Week 8
(May)
20    Einstein Tensor
Einstein Equation II
Cosmological Constant
21
 
 
22
Birkhoff's Theorem
 
23
 
 
24
Cosmology
Cosmological Principle
Week 9
(May)
27
Memorial Day
 
28
 
 
29
Constant Curvature
Robertson-Walker Metrics
30
 
 
31
The Big Bang
Friedmann Models I, II
Week 10
(Jun)
3    Missing Matter
Standard Models
Cosmological Redshift
4
 
 
5
Rotating Black Holes
 
6
 
 
7
Alcubierre Warp Drive
Null Shells of Matter
Finals
(Jun)
10
 
11
 
12
 
13
 
14