PHY 564 A: Introduction to GR

I introduce the basic concepts and essential mathematics of GR and explore its implications for astrophysics and cosmology. 

Course Outline:       

1. Preliminaries: Newtonian Gravity, Geometry as Physics, and Special Relativity.   

2. Curved Spacetimes 

3. Spacetimes around Spherical Objects and Black Holes  

4. Application to Cosmology

5. Gravity Waves 

6. Einstein's Equation

• Sources: 

Text Book: 

• James Hartle, “Gravity: An introduction to Einstein's Theory of General Relativity"   

Lectures Notes & YouTube Lectures: 

1. Lecture notes by Prof. Sean Carroll is available here and a condensed version can be found here. 

2. Lectures by Leonard Susskind are available here. 

Grading: 

• Homework: 40% 

• Mid-term: 30% 

• Final:  30%