Readings

SES # TOPICS READINGS
1

Course Overview


  • Overview of Course Contents
  • Practical Issues and Advice
  • Related Subjects; Brief History of Physics

Resnick: Chapter 1 and beginning of Chapter 2.

French: Chapters 1 and 2.

Course Study Guide Handout (PDF)
2

Symmetry and Invariance


  • Background and History
  • Galilean Transformation, Inertial Reference Frames
  • Classical Wave Equations; Transformation to Other Frames
  • Michelson-Morley Experiment; Aether

Resnick: Chapter 1 and beginning of Chapter 2.

French: Chapters 1 and 2.

Symmetry Handout (PDF)
3

Symmetry and Invariance (cont.)


  • Postulates of Special Relativity
  • First Discussion of Minkowski Diagrams, World Lines

Resnick: Chapter 1 and beginning of Chapter 2.

French: Chapters 1 and 2.

Symmetry Handout (PDF)
4

Relativistic Kinematics


  • Derivation of Lorentz-Einstein Transformations
    • Matrix Representation
  • Introduction of Four-Vectors

Resnick: Chapter 2.

French: Chapters 3 and 4.

Matrix Primer Handout (PDF)

Kinematics Handout (PDF)
5

Relativistic Kinematics (cont.)


  • Time Dilation and Length Contraction
    • Decay of Atmospheric Muons
    • Pole Vaulter Problem
  • Alternative Looks at Time Dilation and Length Contraction
  • Spacetime Intervals
  • First Discussion of Accelerated Clocks

Resnick: Chapter 2.

French: Chapters 3 and 4.

Matrix Primer handout (PDF)

Kinematics Handout (PDF)
6

Relativistic Kinematics (cont.)


  • Addition of Velocities
  • Angle Transformation for Trajectories
    • Doppler Effect
      • Classical Doppler Effect for Sound
      • Relativistic Doppler Effect
      • Astrophysical Examples; Relativistic and Superluminal Jets

French: Chapter 5.

Kinematics Handout (PDF)
7

Relativistic Kinematics (cont.)


  • Stellar Aberration
  • Doppler Effect and Angle Transformation via Transformation of Phase of Plane Waves
  • Fully Calibrated Minkowski Diagrams
    • Pole-Vaulter Problem
    • Twin Paradox with Constant Velocity Plus a Reversal
    • Twin Paradox with Arbitrary Acceleration

French: Chapter 5.

Kinematics Handout (PDF)
8

Variational Calculus


  • Short Discourse on the Calculus of Variations
    • Extremization of Path Integrals
      • The Euler-Lagrange Equations and Constants of the Motion
      • Brachistochrone Problem
    • Extremal Aging for Inertially Moving Clocks
  • Optional Problems in the Use of the Calculus of Variations as Applied to Lagragian Mechanics and Other Problems in the Extremization of Path Integrals
 Resnick: Supplementary Topics A and B in pages 188-209.
9

Relativistic Dynamics and Particle Physics


  • Relativistic Momentum Inferred from Gedanken Experiment with Inelastic Collisions
  • Relativistic Relations between Force and Acceleration
  • Relativistic Version of Work-Energy Theorem
    • Kinetic Energy, Rest Energy, Equivalence of Mass-Energy
    • E2 - p2 Invariant
  • Nuclear Binding Energies
    • Atomic Mass Excesses, Semi-Empirical Binding Energy Equation
    • Nuclear Reactions
    • Solar p-p Chain

Resnick: Supplementary Topics A and B in pages 188-209.

Relativistic Dynamics Handout (PDF)

Particle Physics Handout (PDF)
10

Relativistic Dynamics and Particle Physics (cont.)


  • Relativistic Motion in a B Field, Lorentz Force
    • Cyclotrons, Synchrotrons
  • Further Gedanken Experiments Relating to Mass-Energy Equivalence, Relativistic Momentum
  • Quantum Nature of Light
    • Photoelectric Effect, Photons
  • beta-Decay and the Inference of Neutrino

Relativistic Dynamics Chapters in Resnick and French.

Relativistic Dynamics Handout (PDF)

Particle Physics Handout (PDF)
11 Quiz 1  
12

Relativistic Dynamics and Particle Physics (cont.)


  • Absorption and Emission of Light Quanta
    • Atomic and Nuclear Recoil
    • Mössbauer Effect
    • Pound-Rebka Experiment
  • Collisions
    • Between Photons and Moving Atoms
    • Elastic
    • Compton
    • Inverse Compton
    • Between Photon and Relativistic Particle

Relativistic Dynamics Chapters in Resnick and French.

Relativistic Dynamics Handout (PDF)

Particle Physics Handout (PDF)
13

Relativistic Dynamics and Particle Physics (cont.)


  • Particle Production
    • Threshold Energy
      • Colliding Particle Beams
      • Two Photons Producing an Electron/Positron Pair

Resnick: Chapter 3.

French: Chapters 6 and 7.

Relativistic Dynamics Handout (PDF)

Particle Physics Handout (PDF)
14

Relativistic Dynamics and Particle Physics (cont.)


  • Formal Transformation of E and P as a Four-Vector
    • Revisit the Relativistic Doppler Effect
  • Relativistic Invariant E2 - p2 for a Collection of Particles

Resnick: Chapter 3.

French: Chapters 6 and 7.

Relativistic Dynamics Handout (PDF)

Particle Physics Handout (PDF)
15

Relativity and Electromagnetism


  • Coulomb's Law
  • Transformation of Coulomb's Law
  • Force on a Moving Test Charge
    • Magnetic Field and Relativity
    • Derivation of Lorentz Force

Resnick: Chapter 4.

French: Chapter 8.

Note: As stressed in lecture, please don't get bogged down with their excessive E&M algebra.

Electromagnetism Handout (PDF)
16

Relativity and Electromagnetism (cont.)


  • General Transformation Laws for E and B
  • Magnetic Force due to Current-Bearing Wire
  • Force between Current-Bearing Wires

Resnick: Chapter 4.

French: Chapter 8.

Electromagnetism Handout (PDF)
17

The Equivalence Principle and General Relativity


  • Strong and Weak Principles of Equivalence
  • Local Equivalence of Gravity and Acceleration
  • Elevator Thought Experiments
    • Gravitational Redshift
    • Light Bending
  • Relative Acceleration of Test Particles in Falling Elevator of Finite Size
  • Definition of the Metric Tensor
  • Analogy between the Metric Tensor and the Ordinary Potential, and between Einstein's Field Equations and Poisson's Equation

Taylor and Wheeler: Until pp. 2-18, in addition to Project G.

Please also read the following:

Cosmology: Popular Overview
Lemonick, Michael D. "The End." Time, June 25, 2001, 48-56.

Cosmology: Spacetime Overview
Tegmark, Max. "Spacetime." Science 296 (2002): 1427-1433.

Cosmology: Ned Wright's Tutorial.
18

General Relativity and Cosmology


  • Cosmological Redshifts and the Hubble Law

Taylor and Wheeler: Until page 2-18, also project G.

Please also read the following:

Cosmology: Popular Overview
Lemonick, Michael D. "The End." Time, June 25, 2001, 48-56.

Cosmology: Spacetime Overview
Tegmark, Max. "Spacetime." Science 296 (2002): 1427-1433.

Cosmology: Ned Wright's Tutorial.
19

General Relativity and Cosmology (cont.)


  • Cosmology
    • Dynamical Equations for the Scale Factor a - Including Ordinary Matter, Dark Matter, and Dark Energy
    • Critical Closure Density; Open, Closed, Flat Universes
    • Solutions for Various combinations of Omegam, OmegaLambda and Omegak

Taylor and Wheeler: Until pp. 2-18, also Project G.

Please also read the following:

Cosmology: Popular Overview
Lemonick, Michael D. "The End." Time, June 25, 2001, 48-56.

Cosmology: Spacetime Overview
Tegmark, Max. "Spacetime." Science 296 (2002): 1427-1433.

Cosmology: Ned Wright's Tutorial.
20

General Relativity and Cosmology (cont.)


  • Cosmology (cont.)
    • Age of the Universe, Brief History
    • Relation between Scale Factor and Z from the Doppler Shift
    • Lookback Age as a Function of Z for Various Values of Omegam, OmegaLambda and Omegak
    • Acceleration Parameter as a Function of Scale Factor
    • Current S Status of Cosmology, Unsolved Puzzles

Taylor and Wheeler: Until pp. 2-18, also Project G.

Please also read the following:

Cosmology: Popular Overview
Lemonick, Michael D. "The End." Time, June 25, 2001, 48-56.

Cosmology: Spacetime Overview
Tegmark, Max. "Spacetime." Science 296 (2002): 1427-1433.

Cosmology: Ned Wright's Tutorial.
  • 21
 Quiz 2  
22

General Relativity and Cosmology (cont.)


  • Handout Defining Einstein Field Equations, Einstein Tensor, Stress-Energy Tensor, Curvature Scalar, Ricci Tensor, Christoffel Symbols, Riemann Curvature Tensor
  • Symmetry Arguments by Which 6 Schwarzschild Metric Tensor Components Vanish
  • Symmetry Arguments for Why the Non-zero Components are Functions of Radius Only
  • The Differential Equations for G00 and G11
  • Shell Radius vs. Bookkeepers Radial Coordinate

Taylor and Wheeler: Chapters 2, 3, 4, 5, and Project D.

Note: You will be responsible only for the corresponding material that was actually covered in the lectures. Project E should also be understandable, but this topic will be mentioned only very briefly in lecture.

General Relativity Handout (PDF)
23

General Relativity and Black Holes


  • Gravitational Redshift
    • Application to the GPS System
  • Particle Orbits
    • Use Euler Equations (for External Aging) in Connection with the Schwarzschild Metric to find Constants of the Motion E and L
    • Derive the Full Expression for the Effective Potential

Taylor and Wheeler: Chapters 2, 3, 4, 5, and Project D.

General Relativity Handout (PDF)

Einstein's Field Equations Handout (PDF)
24

General Relativity and Black Holes (cont.)


  • Derive Analytic Results for Radial Motion
    • Compare Speeds and Energies for Bookkeeper and Shell Observers
  • Equations of Motion for a General Orbit
    • Explain How these can be Numerically Integrated
  • Expand the Effective Potential in the Weak-Field Limit

Taylor and Wheeler: Chapters 2, 3, 4, 5, and Project D.

General Relativity Handout (PDF)

Einstein's Field Equations Handout (PDF)
25

General Relativity and Black Holes (cont.)


  • Keplers Third Law in the Schwarzschild Metric
  • Relativistic Precession in the Weak-Field Limit
    • Taylor-Hulse Binary Neutron Star System
  • Derivation of the Last Stable Circular Orbit at 6M
    • Analytic E and L for Circular Orbits

Taylor and Wheeler: Chapters 2, 3, 4, 5, and Project D.

General Relativity Handout (PDF)

Einstein's Field Equations Handout (PDF)
26

General Relativity and Black Holes (cont.)


  • Photon Trajectories
    • Derive Differential Equation for the Trajectories
    • Critical Impact Parameter
    • Derive Expression for Light Bending in the Weak-Field Limit
  • Shapiro Time Delay

Taylor and Wheeler: Chapters 2, 3, 4, 5, and Project D.

General Relativity Handout (PDF)

Einstein's Field Equations Handout (PDF)