This course will cover special relativity, will introduce elements of general relativity and related concepts of relevance
for cosmology.
While special relativity will be treated in all details, the (at-this-level) prohibitive standard mathematical tools of general relativity will not be used. General-relativity concepts will be introduced at a more intuitive level.
Given the amount of new scientific and philosophical ideas introduced, this course aims at being quite interactive. Homework problems will be occasionally assigned.
Students are expected to give class presentations discussing these problems and/or any relevant piece of literature or videos found on the web (the most popular source of information for young people) or elsewhere. The hope is that this course will provide a guide for further reading to the students interested in this subject.
While special relativity will be treated in all details, the (at-this-level) prohibitive standard mathematical tools of general relativity will not be used. General-relativity concepts will be introduced at a more intuitive level.
Given the amount of new scientific and philosophical ideas introduced, this course aims at being quite interactive. Homework problems will be occasionally assigned.
Students are expected to give class presentations discussing these problems and/or any relevant piece of literature or videos found on the web (the most popular source of information for young people) or elsewhere. The hope is that this course will provide a guide for further reading to the students interested in this subject.
The students will master the concept of relativity (often misrepresented in the general lore) as a concept of invariance of
physical laws in different reference frames.
They will understand the phenomena of time dilation, length contraction as well as the breaking of simultaneity of events experienced by observers in different
inertial reference frames.
They will get familiar with the idea that observations in accelerated reference frames can be considered equivalent to observations in inertial reference frames with
a gravitational field. This will be the key for the students to understand what induced Einstein to hypothesize that mass curves space (or more correctly space-time).
They will understand why time appears to be dilated in reference frames close to gravitational objects with respect to time measured in references frames that are
far from these objects. They will also understand the phenomenon of light curving in presence of these some objects.
Finally they will be introduced to some basic ideas of modern cosmology.
They will understand the phenomena of time dilation, length contraction as well as the breaking of simultaneity of events experienced by observers in different
inertial reference frames.
They will get familiar with the idea that observations in accelerated reference frames can be considered equivalent to observations in inertial reference frames with
a gravitational field. This will be the key for the students to understand what induced Einstein to hypothesize that mass curves space (or more correctly space-time).
They will understand why time appears to be dilated in reference frames close to gravitational objects with respect to time measured in references frames that are
far from these objects. They will also understand the phenomenon of light curving in presence of these some objects.
Finally they will be introduced to some basic ideas of modern cosmology.
| Goals and objectives | Course Outcomes | |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | The students will be able to understand the concept of relativity in inertial and non-inertial frames and understand how it is possible to formulate relativistic mechanics and electromagnetism |
A-1
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| 2. | The students will grasp the special role of light in physical theories |
A-1
|
| 3. | The students will be able to compare today's concept of space-time with that of the past. They will also understand the role space-time has as a gravitational field (as compared to electric and magnetic fields in electromagnetism). |
A-1
|
| 4. | The students will learn about the applications that relativity has in technology (see GPS and exact time) and in high energy physics. |
A-1
|
| 5. | The students will be exposed to some basic concepts of cosmology stemming from relativity |
| Class schedule | HW assignments (Including preparation and review of the class.) | Amount of Time Required | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Galilean relativity; absolute and relative motion; special role of inertial frames |
review class + possible homework; presentation preparation | 180分 |
| 2. | Coulomb's law vs gravitational law; electromagnetism and the principle of relativity; concept of ether | review class + possible homework; possible presentation preparation | 180分 |
| 3. | Rowing on a river | review class + possible homework + possible presentation preparation | 210分 |
| 4. | Michelson-Morley experiment and the speed of light. Gedanken experiments |
review class + possible homework+ presentation preparation | 180分 |
| 5. | Einstein's hypotheses and consequences: time dilation, length contraction; the twin paradox | review class + possible homework + presentation preparation | 180分 |
| 6. | relativistic mechanics : proper time and proper velocity, relativistic energy and momentum, relativistic kinematics and relativistic dynamics |
review class + possible homework + presentation preparation | 180分 |
| 7. | relativistic electrodynamics: magnetism as a relativistic phenomenon, the field tensor; electrodynamics in tensor notation, relativistic potential |
review class + possible homework+ presentation preparation | 180分 |
| 8. | video | review class - write essay about video | 180分 |
| 9. | general relativity: fields of force; the principle of equivalence; space-time distortion; gravitational fields |
review class + possible homework+ presentation preparation | 210分 |
| 10. | Einstein's theory tests: perihelion of Mercury; shifts of spectral lines; curvatures of light rays |
review class + possible homework + presentation preparation | 180分 |
| 11. | the GPS ; exact time | review class + possible homework+ presentation preparation | 210分 |
| 12. | black holes; curvature of space time; expansion of the Universe, the Big Bang; finite or infinite Universe ?; dark matter; dark energy; |
review class + presentation preparation | 180分 |
| 13. | exam: class presentations and discussion | review material | 210分 |
| 14. | exam : class presentations and discussion | review material | 210分 |
| Total. | - | - | 2670分 |
| hon prepr | essay | Total. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | 8% | 12% | 20% |
| 2. | 8% | 12% | 20% |
| 3. | 8% | 12% | 20% |
| 4. | 8% | 12% | 20% |
| 5. | 8% | 12% | 20% |
| Total. | 40% | 60% | - |
Students are expected to give short reviews presentations of concepts developed in previous classes or of solutions of the
occasional homework assigned.
The final exam consists of an individual class presentation
A rate of 40% of the score can be obtained from the in-class participation (with presentations); 60% can be obtained from the final essay.
A minimum of 60% of the score is needed to pass the course.
The final exam consists of an individual class presentation
A rate of 40% of the score can be obtained from the in-class participation (with presentations); 60% can be obtained from the final essay.
A minimum of 60% of the score is needed to pass the course.
Notes provided by the teacher will be drawn from :
* Readable relativity, by C.V. Durrell, G. Ball & sons Ltd.
* Relativita`, principi e applicazioni, V. Barone, Boringhieri,Ed.
* Gravity: An introduction to Einstein's theory of relativity, by J.B. Hertle, Pearson
* Introduction to Electrodynamics, by D.J. Griffits, Pearson
* Readable relativity, by C.V. Durrell, G. Ball & sons Ltd.
* Relativita`, principi e applicazioni, V. Barone, Boringhieri,Ed.
* Gravity: An introduction to Einstein's theory of relativity, by J.B. Hertle, Pearson
* Introduction to Electrodynamics, by D.J. Griffits, Pearson
Prerequisites are the courses of Physics Mechanics, Physics Electromagnetism, and Calculus.
If necessary, concepts needed will be briefly reviewed in class.
If necessary, concepts needed will be briefly reviewed in class.
- one fixed time will be chosen after the full schedule of the courses will be finalized.
In the meantime, and in any case, contact me to fix an appointment at the email address franbor at shibaura-it.ac.jp
- Course that cultivates an ability for utilizing knowledge
- Course that cultivates a basic problem-solving skills
| Work experience | Work experience and relevance to the course content if applicable |
|---|---|
| N/A | N/A |
Last modified : Thu Sep 01 04:04:15 JST 2022