PHYS 171 General Relativity, Black Holes, and Cosmology

Special relativity is reviewed. Curved space-time, including the metric and geodesics, are illustrated with simple examples. The Einstein equations are solved for cases of high symmetry. Black-hole physics and cosmology are discussed, including recent developments. Also offered as PHYS 226. Students cannot receive credit for both PHYS 171 and PHYS 226.