ECTS credits ECTS credits: 4.5
ECTS Hours Rules/Memories Student's work ECTS: 74.25 Hours of tutorials: 2.25 Expository Class: 18 Interactive Classroom: 18 Total: 112.5
Use languages Spanish, Galician
Type: Ordinary Degree Subject RD 1393/2007 - 822/2021
Departments: Particle Physics
Areas: Theoretical Physics
Center Faculty of Physics
Call: Second Semester
Teaching: With teaching
Enrolment: Enrollable
In this subject the physics of gravitational interaction will be studied, emphasizing the formulation based on the Theory of General Relativity. Gravitation is without a doubt the most common and determining force in nature on a large scale. The Theory of General Relativity establishes a deep connection between this force and the geometry of space-time. The objective of the course is, on the one hand, to transmit to the student the beauty inherent in the theory, and on the other, the enormous variety of phenomena that it describes and predicts. Verifying the moment of intense development that this branch of physics is experiencing and knowing the latest advances and the experiments to come is another well defined goal.
At the end of the course, the student must:
- Have attained a general knowledge of the basic phenomenology of gravitational interaction.
- Be able to perform calculations with tensors.
- Solve gravitation problems.
- Have a knowledge of the current borders in this field and of recent and upcoming experiments.
1. Introduction to gravitational interaction. Newton's theory: successes and limitations.
2. Space time. General coordinate systems.
3. Tensor analysis in varieties. Theory of General Relativity.
4. Gravitational field and Einstein's equations. Schwarzschild's solution.
5. Tests in gravitational fields: orbits and light rays. Historical experiments.
6. Interior solution and gravitational collapse. Black Holes. Experimental evidence.
7. Gravitational Waves. Future theory and experiments.
8. Cosmology: solutions and cosmological constant.
-Class notes (available online)
- James B. Hartle, Gravity, an Introduction to Einstein's General Relativity, Addison Wesley, 2003.
- B. Schutz, A First Course in General Relativity, Cambridge, 2003.
- Sean M. Carroll, Spacetime and Geometry: Lecture Notes on General Relativity http://preposterousuniverse.com/grnotes/
General Competences:
- Know the most important concepts, methods and results of the different branches of Physics, together with a certain historical perspective of its development.
- Have the ability to gather and interpret relevant data, information and results, draw conclusions and issue reasoned reports on scientific, technological problems or other areas that require the use of knowledge of Physics
- Apply both the theoretical and practical knowledge acquired as well as the capacity for analysis and abstraction in the definition and approach of problems and in the search for their solutions in both academic and professional contexts
- That students have demonstrated knowledge and understanding in an area of study that starts from the base of general secondary education, and is usually at a level that, although supported by advanced textbooks, also includes some aspects that involve knowledge from the cutting edge of your field of study
- That students know how to apply their knowledge to their work or vocation in a professional way and have the skills that are usually demonstrated through the development and defense of arguments and problem solving within their area of ;study
- That students have the ability to gather and interpret relevant data (usually within their area of study) to make judgments that include reflection on relevant issues of a social, scientific or ethical nature
Transversal Competences:
- Acquire capacity for analysis and synthesis
- Have organizational and planning skills
- Develop critical reasoning
Specific Competences:
- Have a good understanding of the most important physical theories, locating in their logical and mathematical structure, their experimental support and the physical phenomenon that can be described through them.
- Being able to clearly handle orders of magnitude and make appropriate estimates in order to develop a clear perception of situations that, although physically different, show some analogy allowing the use of known solutions to new problems.
- Being able to carry out the essentials of a process or situation and establish a working model of the same as well as make the required approximations in order to reduce the problem to a manageable level. Demonstrate critical thinking skills to build physical models
- Be able to handle, search for and use bibliography, as well as any relevant source of information and apply it to research work and technical development of projects
The methodological indications established in the USC Degree Degree Physics Report will be followed. The content of the subject will be taught in 20 teaching hours of an expository nature. The class notes will serve as support for the study. Exercises will be proposed that the student must solve and, where appropriate, deliver. They will be corrected later in the interactive hours. 5 hours of individualized tutoring are available on request and by appointment.
The continuous evaluation (EC) of the course will have in consideration:
- The assistance and participation in class (APC), through the resolution and delivery of problems.
- The accomplishment of a final examination (EF).
- The accomplishment of a written work on a selected subject (TE).
Then, the continuous evaluation grading can be computed as
EC = MIN(0.2xAPC+0.8xEF+0.2xTE;10)
as long as EF exceeds (or equals) 4 points, unavoidable condition to approve the course.
The final grading is then given by
NF = MAX(EC;EF)
In cases of fraudulent completion of exercises or tests, the following will apply to the provisions of the "Regulations for evaluating students' academic performance and reviewing grades":
"Article 16. Fraudulent performance of exercises or tests.
The fraudulent performance of any exercise or test required in the evaluation of a subject will imply the qualification of failed in the corresponding call, regardless of the disciplinary process that may be followed against the offending student. It is considered fraudulent, among other things, the realization of plagiarized works or obtained from sources accessible to the public without re-elaboration or reinterpretation and without citations to the authors and the sources ”.
The subject has an asignement of 4.5 ECTS credits. This implies a total of 112,5 hours of teaching, distributed as follows
distributed as follows:
- 24 hours of expository classes
- 18 hours of interactive classes
- 3 hours of tutoring
- 67,5 hours of personal work by the student.
No previous knowledge is necessary other than the one reasonably expected for a student who is already at the third or fourth year of the Degree in Physics. A special aptitude towards mathematics and most formal aspects of theoretical physics is recommended.
Javier Mas Sole
Coordinador/a- Department
- Particle Physics
- Area
- Theoretical Physics
- Phone
- 881813985
- javier.mas [at] usc.es
- Category
- Professor: University Professor
Jose Daniel Edelstein Glaubach
- Department
- Particle Physics
- Area
- Theoretical Physics
- Phone
- 881813975
- jose.edelstein [at] usc.es
- Category
- Professor: University Lecturer
Juan Santos Suarez
- Department
- Particle Physics
- Area
- Theoretical Physics
- juansantos.suarez [at] usc.es
- Category
- Ministry Pre-doctoral Contract
Victor López Pardo
- Department
- Particle Physics
- Area
- Theoretical Physics
- victorlopez.pardo [at] usc.es
- Category
- Xunta Pre-doctoral Contract
Marti Berenguer Mimo
- Department
- Particle Physics
- Area
- Theoretical Physics
- marti.berenguer.mimo [at] usc.es
- Category
- Xunta Pre-doctoral Contract
| Tuesday | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 09:00-10:30 | Grupo /CLE_01 | Spanish | Main Hall |
| Thursday | |||
| 09:00-10:30 | Grupo /CLE_01 | Spanish | Main Hall |
| 05.20.2025 09:00-13:00 | Grupo /CLE_01 | Classroom 0 |
| 05.20.2025 09:00-13:00 | Grupo /CLE_01 | Classroom 130 |
| 05.20.2025 09:00-13:00 | Grupo /CLE_01 | Classroom 6 |
| 05.20.2025 09:00-13:00 | Grupo /CLE_01 | Classroom 830 |
| 07.04.2025 16:00-20:00 | Grupo /CLE_01 | Classroom 0 |