University of Waterloo Department of Applied Mathematics

AMATH 475/675 & PHYS 476

General Relativity
Winter 2016
Einstein’s theory of general relativity, proposed in 1915, is the currently accepted theory of grav-
ity. It has superseded Newton’s theory of gravity, since it satisfies all experimental and observational
tests, whereas Newton’s theory does not.
Einstein’s theory has led to a number of dramatic predictions. First, it predicts that a sufficiently
massive star will eventually undergo gravitational collapse and form a black hole, an object whose
gravitational attraction is so strong that light cannot escape from it. Secondly, it predicts the
existence of gravitational waves, which are emitted when massive objects undergo rapid accelerations
(e.g., binary systems containing a neutron star). Thirdly, when the theory is applied on the largest
possible scales to cosmology (the study of the universe as a whole), it predicts that the universe is
expanding and that it originated in a“cosmic explosion” approximately 20 billion years ago. There
is strong observational support for the first and third predictions, but so far gravitational waves
have not been detected (current detectors are not sufficiently sensitive).
The goal of the course is to give an introduction to Einstein’s theory of general relativity,
culminating in a discussion of the simplest type of black hole, the Schwarzshild black hole, and of
the simplest cosmological model, the Friedmann-Lemaı̂tre model. The differential geometry and
tensor analysis which is needed to formulate the theory will be developed in the first part of the
course.
Intended audience:

• Students in the Mathematical Physics program, AMATH majors, Physics majors and other
undergraduates who are interested in finding out about general relativity.
• Graduate students who are interested in undertaking research in general relativity. The
courses will provide a sound foundation for future work (graduate students should enroll
in AMATH 675, and will be required to do extra work).

Prerequisites: AMATH 261/PHYS 263 or by consent of the instructor. Fourth year standing
is required since the course will require an appropriate level of maturity.
Text: Various books will be suggested in class.
Instructor: Florian Girelli, MC 6332, fgirelli@uwaterloo.ca
Lecture times: 11:30-12:20, MWF in MC 2038.
Start Date: January 4th, 2016