| 1 |
Course Overview
- Overview of Course Contents
- Practical Issues and Advice
- Related Subjects; Brief History of Physics
| Resnick: Chapter 1 and beginning of Chapter 2. French: Chapters 1 and 2. Course Study Guide Handout (PDF) |
| 2 |
Symmetry and Invariance
Background and History Galilean Transformation, Inertial Reference Frames Classical Wave Equations; Transformation to Other Frames Michelson-Morley Experiment; Aether
| Resnick: Chapter 1 and beginning of Chapter 2. French: Chapters 1 and 2. Symmetry Handout (PDF) |
| 3 |
Symmetry and Invariance (cont.)
- Postulates of Special Relativity
- First Discussion of Minkowski Diagrams, World Lines
| Resnick: Chapter 1 and beginning of Chapter 2. French: Chapters 1 and 2. Symmetry Handout (PDF) |
| 4 |
Relativistic Kinematics
- Derivation of Lorentz-Einstein Transformations
- Introduction of Four-Vectors
| Resnick: Chapter 2. French: Chapters 3 and 4. Matrix Primer Handout (PDF) Kinematics Handout (PDF) |
| 5 |
Relativistic Kinematics (cont.)
- Time Dilation and Length Contraction
- Decay of Atmospheric Muons
- Pole Vaulter Problem
- Alternative Looks at Time Dilation and Length Contraction
- Spacetime Intervals
- First Discussion of Accelerated Clocks
| Resnick: Chapter 2. French: Chapters 3 and 4. Matrix Primer handout (PDF) Kinematics Handout (PDF) |
| 6 |
Relativistic Kinematics (cont.)
- Addition of Velocities
- Angle Transformation for Trajectories
- Doppler Effect
- Classical Doppler Effect for Sound
- Relativistic Doppler Effect
- Astrophysical Examples; Relativistic and Superluminal Jets
| French: Chapter 5. Kinematics Handout (PDF) |
| 7 |
Relativistic Kinematics (cont.)
- Stellar Aberration
- Doppler Effect and Angle Transformation via Transformation of Phase of Plane Waves
- Fully Calibrated Minkowski Diagrams
- Pole-Vaulter Problem
- Twin Paradox with Constant Velocity Plus a Reversal
- Twin Paradox with Arbitrary Acceleration
| French: Chapter 5. Kinematics Handout (PDF) |
| 8 |
Variational Calculus
- Short Discourse on the Calculus of Variations
- Extremization of Path Integrals
- The Euler-Lagrange Equations and Constants of the Motion
- Brachistochrone Problem
- Extremal Aging for Inertially Moving Clocks
- Optional Problems in the Use of the Calculus of Variations as Applied to Lagragian Mechanics and Other Problems in the Extremization of Path Integrals
| Resnick: Supplementary Topics A and B in pages 188-209. |
| 9 |
Relativistic Dynamics and Particle Physics
- Relativistic Momentum Inferred from Gedanken Experiment with Inelastic Collisions
- Relativistic Relations between Force and Acceleration
- Relativistic Version of Work-Energy Theorem
- Kinetic Energy, Rest Energy, Equivalence of Mass-Energy
- E2 - p2 Invariant
- Nuclear Binding Energies
- Atomic Mass Excesses, Semi-Empirical Binding Energy Equation
- Nuclear Reactions
- Solar p-p Chain
| Resnick: Supplementary Topics A and B in pages 188-209. Relativistic Dynamics Handout (PDF) Particle Physics Handout (PDF) |
| 10 |
Relativistic Dynamics and Particle Physics (cont.)
- Relativistic Motion in a B Field, Lorentz Force
- Further Gedanken Experiments Relating to Mass-Energy Equivalence, Relativistic Momentum
- Quantum Nature of Light
- Photoelectric Effect, Photons
- beta-Decay and the Inference of Neutrino
| Relativistic Dynamics Chapters in Resnick and French. Relativistic Dynamics Handout (PDF) Particle Physics Handout (PDF) |
| 11 | Quiz 1 | |
| 12 |
Relativistic Dynamics and Particle Physics (cont.)
- Absorption and Emission of Light Quanta
- Atomic and Nuclear Recoil
- Mössbauer Effect
- Pound-Rebka Experiment
- Collisions
- Between Photons and Moving Atoms
- Elastic
- Compton
- Inverse Compton
- Between Photon and Relativistic Particle
| Relativistic Dynamics Chapters in Resnick and French. Relativistic Dynamics Handout (PDF) Particle Physics Handout (PDF) |
| 13 |
Relativistic Dynamics and Particle Physics (cont.)
- Particle Production
- Threshold Energy
- Colliding Particle Beams
- Two Photons Producing an Electron/Positron Pair
| Resnick: Chapter 3. French: Chapters 6 and 7. Relativistic Dynamics Handout (PDF) Particle Physics Handout (PDF) |
| 14 |
Relativistic Dynamics and Particle Physics (cont.)
- Formal Transformation of E and P as a Four-Vector
- Revisit the Relativistic Doppler Effect
- Relativistic Invariant E2 - p2 for a Collection of Particles
| Resnick: Chapter 3. French: Chapters 6 and 7. Relativistic Dynamics Handout (PDF) Particle Physics Handout (PDF) |
| 15 |
Relativity and Electromagnetism
- Coulomb's Law
- Transformation of Coulomb's Law
- Force on a Moving Test Charge
- Magnetic Field and Relativity
- Derivation of Lorentz Force
| Resnick: Chapter 4. French: Chapter 8. Note: As stressed in lecture, please don't get bogged down with their excessive E&M algebra. Electromagnetism Handout (PDF) |
| 16 |
Relativity and Electromagnetism (cont.)
- General Transformation Laws for E and B
- Magnetic Force due to Current-Bearing Wire
- Force between Current-Bearing Wires
| Resnick: Chapter 4. French: Chapter 8. Electromagnetism Handout (PDF) |
| 17 |
The Equivalence Principle and General Relativity
- Strong and Weak Principles of Equivalence
- Local Equivalence of Gravity and Acceleration
- Elevator Thought Experiments
- Gravitational Redshift
- Light Bending
- Relative Acceleration of Test Particles in Falling Elevator of Finite Size
- Definition of the Metric Tensor
- Analogy between the Metric Tensor and the Ordinary Potential, and between Einstein's Field Equations and Poisson's Equation
| Taylor and Wheeler: Until pp. 2-18, in addition to Project G. Please also read the following: Cosmology: Popular Overview
Lemonick, Michael D. "The End." Time, June 25, 2001, 48-56. Cosmology: Spacetime Overview
Tegmark, Max. "Spacetime." Science 296 (2002): 1427-1433. Cosmology: Ned Wright's Tutorial. |
| 18 |
General Relativity and Cosmology
- Cosmological Redshifts and the Hubble Law
| Taylor and Wheeler: Until page 2-18, also project G. Please also read the following: Cosmology: Popular Overview
Lemonick, Michael D. "The End." Time, June 25, 2001, 48-56. Cosmology: Spacetime Overview
Tegmark, Max. "Spacetime." Science 296 (2002): 1427-1433. Cosmology: Ned Wright's Tutorial. |
| 19 |
General Relativity and Cosmology (cont.)
- Cosmology
- Dynamical Equations for the Scale Factor a - Including Ordinary Matter, Dark Matter, and Dark Energy
- Critical Closure Density; Open, Closed, Flat Universes
- Solutions for Various combinations of Omegam, OmegaLambda and Omegak
| Taylor and Wheeler: Until pp. 2-18, also Project G. Please also read the following: Cosmology: Popular Overview
Lemonick, Michael D. "The End." Time, June 25, 2001, 48-56. Cosmology: Spacetime Overview
Tegmark, Max. "Spacetime." Science 296 (2002): 1427-1433. Cosmology: Ned Wright's Tutorial. |
| 20 |
General Relativity and Cosmology (cont.)
- Cosmology (cont.)
- Age of the Universe, Brief History
- Relation between Scale Factor and Z from the Doppler Shift
- Lookback Age as a Function of Z for Various Values of Omegam, OmegaLambda and Omegak
- Acceleration Parameter as a Function of Scale Factor
- Current S Status of Cosmology, Unsolved Puzzles
| Taylor and Wheeler: Until pp. 2-18, also Project G. Please also read the following: Cosmology: Popular Overview
Lemonick, Michael D. "The End." Time, June 25, 2001, 48-56. Cosmology: Spacetime Overview
Tegmark, Max. "Spacetime." Science 296 (2002): 1427-1433. Cosmology: Ned Wright's Tutorial. |
| Quiz 2 | |
| 22 |
General Relativity and Cosmology (cont.)
- Handout Defining Einstein Field Equations, Einstein Tensor, Stress-Energy Tensor, Curvature Scalar, Ricci Tensor, Christoffel Symbols, Riemann Curvature Tensor
- Symmetry Arguments by Which 6 Schwarzschild Metric Tensor Components Vanish
- Symmetry Arguments for Why the Non-zero Components are Functions of Radius Only
- The Differential Equations for G00 and G11
- Shell Radius vs. Bookkeepers Radial Coordinate
| Taylor and Wheeler: Chapters 2, 3, 4, 5, and Project D. Note: You will be responsible only for the corresponding material that was actually covered in the lectures. Project E should also be understandable, but this topic will be mentioned only very briefly in lecture. General Relativity Handout (PDF) |
| 23 |
General Relativity and Black Holes
- Gravitational Redshift
- Application to the GPS System
- Particle Orbits
- Use Euler Equations (for External Aging) in Connection with the Schwarzschild Metric to find Constants of the Motion E and L
- Derive the Full Expression for the Effective Potential
| Taylor and Wheeler: Chapters 2, 3, 4, 5, and Project D. General Relativity Handout (PDF) Einstein's Field Equations Handout (PDF) |
| 24 |
General Relativity and Black Holes (cont.)
- Derive Analytic Results for Radial Motion
- Compare Speeds and Energies for Bookkeeper and Shell Observers
- Equations of Motion for a General Orbit
- Explain How these can be Numerically Integrated
- Expand the Effective Potential in the Weak-Field Limit
| Taylor and Wheeler: Chapters 2, 3, 4, 5, and Project D. General Relativity Handout (PDF) Einstein's Field Equations Handout (PDF) |
| 25 |
General Relativity and Black Holes (cont.)
- Keplers Third Law in the Schwarzschild Metric
- Relativistic Precession in the Weak-Field Limit
- Taylor-Hulse Binary Neutron Star System
- Derivation of the Last Stable Circular Orbit at 6M
- Analytic E and L for Circular Orbits
| Taylor and Wheeler: Chapters 2, 3, 4, 5, and Project D. General Relativity Handout (PDF) Einstein's Field Equations Handout (PDF) |
| 26 |
General Relativity and Black Holes (cont.)
- Photon Trajectories
- Derive Differential Equation for the Trajectories
- Critical Impact Parameter
- Derive Expression for Light Bending in the Weak-Field Limit
- Shapiro Time Delay
| Taylor and Wheeler: Chapters 2, 3, 4, 5, and Project D. General Relativity Handout (PDF) Einstein's Field Equations Handout (PDF) |