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PH30101: General relativity

Follow this link for further information on academic years Academic Year: 2015/6
Further information on owning departmentsOwning Department/School: Department of Physics
Further information on credits Credits: 6
Further information on unit levels Level: Honours (FHEQ level 6)
Further information on teaching periods Period: Semester 1
Further information on unit assessment Assessment Summary: EX 100%
Further information on unit assessment Assessment Detail:
  • Examination (EX 100%)
Further information on supplementary assessment Supplementary Assessment: Mandatory extra work (where allowed by programme regulations)
Further information on requisites Requisites: Before taking this module you must take PH10004 AND take PH20016 AND take PH20020 AND ( take PH20029 OR take PH20067 ) or equivalent.
Further information on descriptions Description: Aims:
The aims of this unit are to provide an understanding of curved spacetime in general relativity, based on metrics that describe static and rotating black holes, with some appreciation of quantum gravity.

Learning Outcomes:
After taking this unit the student should be able to:
* deduce the motion of particles and light from given spacetime metrics;
* account for the different predictions of general relativity and Newtonian gravity;
* explain the properties of static and rotating black holes;
* appreciate the problems of interfacing general relativity and quantum theory.

Skills:
Numeracy T/F A, Problem Solving T/F A.

Content:
Gravity and relativity: review of special relativity and Newtonian gravity, the equivalence principle, curved spacetime, the classical tests of GR, geodesic equations of motion.
The Schwartzschild metric: orbits, perihelion advance, deflection of light, static black holes, the event horizon, the singularity.
The Kerr metric: rotating black holes, frame dragging, the ergoregion.
Quantum gravity: black hole thermodynamics, Hawking radiation, current theories of everything.
Further information on programme availabilityProgramme availability:

PH30101 is Optional on the following programmes:

Department of Physics
  • USXX-AFB03 : BSc(Hons) Mathematics and Physics (Year 3)
  • USXX-AAB04 : BSc(Hons) Mathematics and Physics with Study year abroad (Year 4)
  • USXX-AKB04 : BSc(Hons) Mathematics and Physics with Year long work placement (Year 4)
  • USXX-AFM01 : MSci(Hons) Mathematics and Physics (Year 3)
  • USXX-AAM01 : MSci(Hons) Mathematics and Physics with Study year abroad (Year 4)
  • USXX-AKM01 : MSci(Hons) Mathematics and Physics with Year long work placement (Year 4)
  • USPH-AFB01 : BSc(Hons) Physics (Year 3)
  • USPH-AAB02 : BSc(Hons) Physics with Study year abroad (Year 4)
  • USPH-AKB02 : BSc(Hons) Physics with Year long work placement (Year 4)
  • USPH-AFM02 : MPhys(Hons) Physics (Year 3)
  • USPH-AKM04 : MPhys(Hons) Physics with Professional and Research Placements (Year 4)
  • USPH-AKM03 : MPhys(Hons) Physics with Professional Placement (Year 4)
  • USPH-AFM04 : MPhys(Hons) Physics with Research placement (Year 3)
  • USPH-AFB05 : BSc(Hons) Physics with Computing (Year 3)
  • USPH-AAB06 : BSc(Hons) Physics with Computing with Study year abroad (Year 4)
  • USPH-AKB06 : BSc(Hons) Physics with Computing with Year long work placement (Year 4)

Notes:
* This unit catalogue is applicable for the 2015/16 academic year only. Students continuing their studies into 2016/17 and beyond should not assume that this unit will be available in future years in the format displayed here for 2015/16.
* Programmes and units are subject to change at any time, in accordance with normal University procedures.
* Availability of units will be subject to constraints such as staff availability, minimum and maximum group sizes, and timetabling factors as well as a student's ability to meet any pre-requisite rules.