General Relativity (MATH4105)

Course overview

Manifolds, tensors, connections & covariant differentiation, parallel transport, goedesics & curvature, differential forms. Foundations of general relativity. Applications to astronomy & cosmology.

In his book "Space-Time Structure," Schrodinger says: ﾠ"In Einstein's theory of gravitation, matter and its dynamical interaction are based on the notion of an intrinsic geometric structure of the space-time continuum.ﾠ The ideal aspiration, the ultimate aim, of the theory is not more and not less than this:ﾠ A four-dimensional continuum endowed with a certain intrinsic geometrical structure, a structure that is subject to certain inherent purely geometrical laws, is to be an adequate model or picture of the 'real world around us in space and time' with all that it contains and including its total behaviour, the display of all events going on in it."

Acceptance of this notion of "geometrizing" all of physics has waxed and waned since Einstein's and Schrodinger's time, but the striking achievements ofﾠEinstein's 'General Theory of relativity' compel usﾠto study both the theory and the mathematical structure upon which it is founded.ﾠ

Accordingly, the first half of the course will introduce the basic mathematical ideas of pseudo-Riemannian geometry:ﾠ manifolds; tensors; connections; parallel transport; covariant differentiation; geodesics; curvature; differential forms; Bianchi identities; Ricci, Einstein and Weyl tensors.ﾠ

By working through problems, the student will have the opportunity to acquire a basic working knowledge of these concepts, and should then have the background necessary for the second half of the course.ﾠ

In the second half of the course, we will study Einstein's equations of general relativity and their application in astronomy and cosmology.ﾠGeneral relativity replaces Newton's theory of gravitation and over the hundred years since its completion evidence for its predictions has become overwhelming and some of the most exciting areas of current research in physics arise out of problems in gravitational physics. The first experimentalﾠtests of Einstein's theory were the correct description of anomalies in the motion of Mercury and theﾠmagnitude of the deflection of a light ray about aﾠmassive object like our sun. Students willﾠlearn how general relativity explained these phenomena, predicted new ones such as gravitational waves and black holes, is needed in order to make GPS work, andﾠhow physicistsﾠtoday hope to applyﾠgeneral relativity to cosmology and understand why our universe behaves as it does.

In the School of Mathematics and Physics we are committed to creating an inclusive and empowering learning environment for all students. We value and respect the diverse range of experiences our students bring to their education, and we believe that this diversity is crucial for fostering a rich culture of knowledge sharing and meaningful exploration. We hold both students and staff accountable for actively contributing to the establishment of a respectful and supportive learning environment.

Bullying, harassment, and discrimination in any form are strictly against our principles and against UQ Policy, and will not be tolerated. We have developed a suite of resources to assist you in recognising, reporting, and addressing such behaviour. If you have any concerns about your experience in this course, we encourage you to tell a member of the course teaching team, or alternatively contact an SMP Classroom Inclusivity Champion (see Blackboard for contact details). Our Inclusivity Champions are here to listen, to understand your concerns, and to explore potential actions that can be taken to resolve them. Your well-being and a positive learning atmosphere are of utmost importance to us.

Course requirements

Assumed background

A good understanding of multivariable calculus and vector analysis (div, grad, curl etc.) will be assumed, together with some exposure to Special Relativity.ﾠ

Prerequisites

You'll need to complete the following courses before enrolling in this one:

(PHYS2100 or PHYS2101) + (MATH2000 or MATH2001 or MATH3102)

Incompatible

You can't enrol in this course if you've already completed the following:

MATH7105 (co-taught, last offered 2022)

Course contact

Course staff

Timetable

The timetable for this course is available on the UQ Public Timetable.

Additional timetable information

All classes will be conducted in person on campus. Consult your personal timetable for times and locations. Students are expected to attend these sessions in person unless they have a valid reason for being unable to attend (such as illness).ﾠ

Aims and outcomes

The first half of the course aims to provide a basic working knowledge of the ideas of tensor calculusﾠon pseudo-Riemannian manifolds, as listed in the Introduction.ﾠ

The second half of the course aims to apply the tensor calculus methods of the first half of the course, first to review special relativity and then to Einstein's general theory of relativity. The course will provide an introduction of the application of this theory to the motion of planets, the gravitational deflection of a light ray and simple cosmological models.

Learning outcomes

After successfully completing this course you should be able to:

Assessment

Assessment summary

A hurdle is an assessment requirement that must be satisfied in order to receive a specific grade for the course. Check the assessment details for more information about hurdle requirements.

Assessment details

4 Assignments

Mode

Written

Category

Tutorial/ Problem Set

Weight

40%

Due date

Assignment 1 18/03/2025 4:00 pm

Assignment 2 8/04/2025 4:00 pm

Assignment 3 6/05/2025 4:00 pm

Assignment 4 27/05/2025 4:00 pm

Learning outcomes

L01, L02, L03, L04, L05, L06, L07, L08, L09, L10

Task description

Submission guidelines

Assignments must be submitted online via Blackboard.

Deferral or extension

You may be able to apply for an extension.

The maximum extension allowed is 7 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.

Solutions for assessment item/s will be released 7 days after the assessment is due and as such, an extension after 7 days will not be possible.

See ADDITIONAL ASSESSMENT INFORMATION for extension/deferral information relating to this assessment item.

Late submission

A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.

You are required to submit assessable items on time. If you fail to meet the submission deadline for any assessment item, then the listed penalty will be deducted per day for up to 7 calendar days, at which point any submission will not receive any marks unless an extension has been approved. Each 24-hour block is recorded from the time the submission is due.

Final examination

• Hurdle

Mode

Written

Category

Examination

Weight

60%

Due date

End of Semester Exam Period

7/06/2025 - 21/06/2025

Learning outcomes

L01, L02, L03, L04, L05, L06, L07, L08, L09, L10

Task description

Hurdle requirements

Exam details

Submission guidelines

Deferral or extension

You may be able to defer this exam.

See ADDITIONAL ASSESSMENT INFORMATION for extension/deferral information relating to this assessment item.

Course grading

Full criteria for each grade is available in the Assessment Procedure.

Supplementary assessment

Supplementary assessment is available for this course.

Should you fail a course with a grade of 3, you may be eligible for supplementary assessment. Refer to my.UQ for information on supplementary assessment and how to apply.

Supplementary assessment provides an additional opportunity to demonstrate you have achieved all the required learning outcomes for a course.

If you apply and are granted supplementary assessment, the type of supplementary assessment set will consider which learning outcome(s) have not been met.

Supplementary assessment in this course will be a 2-hour examination similar in style to the end-of-semester examination. To receive a passing grade of 3S4, you must obtain a mark of 50% or more on the supplementary assessment.

Additional assessment information

Assignment submission

Electronic assignment submission will be available through blackboard.

Important note

Tutors will record your assignment marks on Blackboard. It is your responsibility to check that the mark is correctly recorded. No discussion about incorrect or missing assignment marks will be entertained more than three weeks after marks are released.

Artificial Intelligence

Assessment tasks in this course evaluate students' abilities, skills and knowledge without the aid of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) or Machine Translation (MT). Students are advised that the use of AI or MT technologies to develop responses is strictly prohibited and may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.

Applications for Extensions to Assessment Due Dates

Extension requests are submitted online via my.UQ – applying for an extension. Extension requests received in any other way will not be approved. Additional details associated with extension requests, including acceptable and unacceptable reasons, may be found at my.UQ.

Please note:

• Requests for an extension to an assessment due date must be submitted through your my.UQ portal and you must provide documentation of your circumstances, as soon as it becomes evident that an extension is needed. Your application must be submitted on or before the assessment item's due date and time.
• Applications for extension can take time to be processed so you should continue to work on your assessment item while awaiting a decision. We recommend that you submit any completed work by the due date, and this will be marked if your application is not approved. Should your application be approved, then you will be able to resubmit by the agreed revised due date.
• If an extension is approved, you will be notified via your my.UQ portal and the new date and time for submission provided. It is important that you check the revised date as it may differ from the date that you requested.
• If the basis of the application is a medical condition, applications should be accompanied by a medical certificate dated prior to the assignment due date. If you are unable to provide documentation to support your application by the due date and time you must still submit your application on time and attach a written statement (Word document) outlining why you cannot provide the documentation. You must then upload the documentation to the portal within 24 hours.
• If an extension is being sought on the basis of exceptional circumstances, it must be accompanied by supporting documentation (eg. Statutory declaration).
• For extensions based on a SAP you may be granted a maximum of 7 days (if no earlier maximum date applies). See the Extension or Deferral availability section of each assessment for details. Your SAP is all that is required as documentation to support your application. However, additional extension requests for the assessment item will require the submission of additional supporting documentation e.g., a medical certificate. All extension requests must be received by the assessment due date and time.
• Students may be asked to submit evidence of work completed to date. Lack of adequate progress on your assessment item may result in an extension being denied.
• If you have been ill or unable to attend class for more than 14 days, you are advised to carefully consider whether you are capable of successfully completing your courses this semester. You might be eligible to withdraw without academic penalty - seek advice from the Faculty that administers your program.
• There are no provisions for exemption from an assessment item within UQ rules. If you are unable to submit an assessment piece then, under special circumstances, you may be granted an exemption, but may be required to submit alternative assessment to ensure all learning outcomes are met.

Applications to defer an exam

In certain circumstances you can apply to take a deferred examination for in-semester and end-of-semester exams. You'll need to demonstrate through supporting documentation how unavoidable circumstances prevented you from sitting your exam. If you can’t, you can apply for a one-off discretionary deferred exam.

Deferred Exam requests are submitted online via mySi-net. Requests received in any other way will not be approved. Additional details associated with deferred examinations, including acceptable and unacceptable reasons may be found at my.UQ.

Please note:

• Applications can be submitted no later than 5 calendar days after the date of the original exam.
• There are no provisions to defer a deferred exam. You need to be available to sit your deferred examination.
• Your deferred examination request(s) must have a status of "submitted" in mySI-net to be assessed.
• All applications for deferred in-semester examinations are assessed by the relevant school. Applications for deferred end-of-semester examinations are assessed by the Academic Services Division.
• You’ll receive an email to your student email account when the status of your application is updated.
• If you have a medical condition, mental health condition or disability and require alternative arrangements for your deferred exam you’ll need to complete the online alternative exam arrangements through my.UQ. This is in addition to your deferred examinations request. You need to submit this request on the same day as your request for a deferred exam or supplementary assessment. Contact Student Services if you need assistance completing your alternative exam arrangements request.

Learning resources

You'll need the following resources to successfully complete the course. We've indicated below if you need a personal copy of the reading materials or your own item.

Library resources

Find the required and recommended resources for this course on the UQ Library website.

Learning activities

The learning activities for this course are outlined below. Learn more about the learning outcomes that apply to this course.

Policies and procedures

University policies and procedures apply to all aspects of student life. As a UQ student, you must comply with University-wide and program-specific requirements, including the:

• Student Code of Conduct Policy
• Student Integrity and Misconduct Policy and Procedure
• Assessment Procedure
• Examinations Procedure
• Reasonable Adjustments - Students Policy and Procedure

Learn more about UQ policies on my.UQ and the Policy and Procedure Library.