Area: |
Department of Applied Physics |
Credits: |
25.0 |
Contact Hours: |
4.0 |
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| ** The tuition pattern below provides details of the types of classes and their duration. This is to be used as a guide only. For more precise information please check your unit outline. ** |
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Lecture: |
2 x 2 Hours Weekly |
Other Requisite(s): |
Admission: to the physics honours program
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Syllabus: |
Contravariant and covariant tensors. The Einstein summation convention. Lorentz space. Symmetric and antisymmetric tensors. The gradient, divergence, curl and d Alembertian operators applied to tensors. The order of a tensor. The metric tensor. Rectilinear and curvilinear coordinates. The Einstein tensor. The line element for various coordinate systems. Converting from one coordinate system to a different coordinate system. Cartesian to spherical. In the last six weeks, you will know the definition and application of - flat space and Riemannian space. Christoffel symbols or connection coefficients. The curvature tensor. The Ricci tensor. The principle of equivalence and its implications. General relativity and coordinate geometry problems - calculate the angle of the deflection of light as it passes the sun. Do this calculation classically and compare with the general relativity result. Given a specific line element determine if the space is curved. Determine the line elements of several geometrical shapes. Calculate the connection coefficients for several geometrical shapes. |
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| ** To ensure that the most up-to-date information about unit references, texts and outcomes appears, they will be provided in your unit outline prior to commencement. ** |
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Field of Education: |
10300 Physics and Astronomy (Narrow Grouping) |
HECS Band (if applicable): |
2 |
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Extent to which this unit or thesis
utilises online information: |
Informational |
Result Type: |
Grade/Mark |
|
Availability |
| Year |
Location |
Period |
Internal |
Area External |
Central External |
| 2004 |
Bentley Campus |
Semester 2 |
Y |
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|
Area
External |
refers to external course/units run by the School or Department, offered online or through Web CT, or offered by research. |
Central
External | refers to external course/units run through the Curtin Bentley-based Distance Education Area |
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