ACM40750 Gen Relativity & Black Holes

Academic Year 2024/2025

The course is intended as an elementary introduction to general relativity, Einstein’s theory of gravitation, and the new insights that it provides into the nature of space-time. The lectures will review Newtonian gravitation, physics in curved space-time and the Einstein field equations. It will study the applications of general relativity to planetary motion, the bending of light, and the existence of black holes.

Show/hide contentOpenClose All

Curricular information is subject to change

Learning Outcomes:

• Explain the equivalence principle.
• Understand local inertial coordinates.
• Perform calculations in tensor calculus in curved space-time.
• Derive the Einstein field equations.
• Understand the connection between geodesics and curvature.
• Determine black hole solutions.
• Understand the three classical test of General Relativity.

Student Effort Hours: 
Student Effort Type Hours
Lectures

30
Tutorial

6
Specified Learning Activities

20
Autonomous Student Learning

50
Total

106
Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
Lectures, tutorials, enquiry and problem-based learning 
Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations
Learning Requirements:

Differential Geometry (ACM40090)

Learning Exclusions:

PHYC40120 - General Relativity & Cosmology


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Incompatibles:
PHYC40120 - General Relativity & Cosmology


 
Assessment Strategy  
Description Timing Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade In Module Component Repeat Offered
Exam (In-person): End of semester exam End of trimester
Duration:
2 hr(s)
 Standard conversion grade scale 40% No

60

 No
Assignment(Including Essay): Take-home assignments Week 3, Week 5, Week 10 Standard conversion grade scale 40% No

30

 No
Exam (In-person): In-class tests Week 8 Standard conversion grade scale 40% No

10

 No

Carry forward of passed components
Yes
 
Resit In Terminal Exam
Spring Yes - 2 Hour
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 
Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment
• Group/class feedback, post-assessment

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Graded assignments will be returned to students and solutions will be discussed during tutorials.