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Unit of study_
PHYS4123: General Relativity and Cosmology
2025 unit information
Einstein's General Theory of Relativity represents a pinnacle of modern physics, providing the most accurate description of the action of gravity across the cosmos. To Newton, gravity was simply a force between masses, but Einstein's mathematical language describes gravity in terms of the bending and stretching of space-time. In this course, students will review Einstein's principle of relativity, and the mathematical form of special relativity, and the flat space-time this implies. This will be expanded and generalised to consider Einstein's principle of equivalence and the implications for particle and photon motion with curved space-time. Students will explore the observational consequences of general relativity in several space-time metrics, in particular the Schwarzschild black hole, the Morris-Thorne wormhole, and the Alcubierre warp drive, elucidating the nature of the observer in determining physical quantities. Building on this knowledge, students will understand Einstein's motivation in determining the field equations, relating the distribution of mass and energy to the properties of space-time. Students will apply the field equations, including deriving the cosmological Friedmann-Robertson-Walker metric from the assumption of constant curvature, and using this to determine the universal expansion history and key observables. Students will obtain a complete picture of our modern cosmological model, understanding the constituents of the universe, the need for inflation in the earliest epochs, and the ultimate fate of the cosmos.
Unit details and rules
Managing faculty or University school:
Science
| Study level | Undergraduate |
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| Academic unit | Physics Academic Operations |
| Credit points | 6 |
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Prerequisites:
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An average of at least 65 in 144 credit points of units |
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Corequisites:
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None |
| Prohibitions:
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None |
| Assumed knowledge:
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A major in physics and knowledge of special relativity |
At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:
- LO1. Synthesise knowledge of Newtonian gravity and special relativity from the undergraduate syllabus.
- LO2. Demonstrate understanding of the physics of space-time and its interaction with matter and light in the General Theory of Relativity, and contrast the theory with earlier descriptions of gravity.
- LO3. Apply physics knowledge and mathematical skills to solve problems, including applying the field equations with different metrics.
- LO4. Analyse gravitational phenomena in nature including black holes, wormholes, warp drives, and the cosmological history of the Universe.
Unit availability
This section lists the session, attendance modes and locations the unit is available in. There is a unit outline for each of the unit availabilities, which gives you information about the unit including assessment details and a schedule of weekly activities.
The outline is published 2 weeks before the first day of teaching. You can look at previous outlines for a guide to the details of a unit.
| Session | MoA ? | Location | Outline ? |
|---|---|---|---|
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Semester 2 2025
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Normal day | Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney |
Outline unavailable
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Modes of attendance (MoA)
This refers to the Mode of attendance (MoA) for the unit as it appears when you’re selecting your units in Sydney Student. Find more information about modes of attendance on our website.
