Physics 139

Special and General Relativity for Undergraduates

Spring, 2012

University of California, Berkeley

Instructor:  Hal Haggard
Office:  443 Birge
Office Hours:   Fri. 4-5pm and Tues. 3:30-4:30pm in 429 Birge
Email:  hal "usual at" berkeley.edu
Phone:  +1-510-435-1747

Graduate Student Instructor:  Eugene Kur
Office:  443 Birge
Office Hours:  Mon. 2-4pm in 429 Birge
Email: kur.eugene "usual at" gmail.com

Lecture:  240 Mulford
Time:  TuTh 2-3:30
Discussion Section 1: M 11-12, 2070 VLSB
Discussion Section 2: Th 4-5, 229 Dwinelle
Text:   Hartle, Gravity: An Introduction to Einstein's General Relativity Addison-Wesley

Organization and Logistics

Lecture attendance is strongly encouraged; not all course content is found in texts or handouts.
Prerequisites:
The prerequisites for this course are Physics 105 and Physics 110A. If you have not taken these prerequisites, you must have the instructor's permission to enroll for this course.
Schedule:
Tentative outline for the topics and timeline for the course.
Exam Schedule:
Course Grade:
The grade for this course will be based on your homework, a midterm and a final exam. The break down will be,

The course web site (this site) will be used to post lecture notes, special notes and homework assignments.

Lecture notes are my handwritten notes that I prepare for lecture.  I don't guarantee that they will be identical to what is presented in class, but they should be pretty close usually.


Lecture Notes.


Homework assignments: A required and most important part of the course. Problem sets are due on Tuesday at 5pm each week. Please deposit problem sets in the box labeled "Physics 139" in 251 LeConte. You are encouraged to discuss problems with others in the course, but you must write up your own solutions. Please do not use internet resources to solve problems; if you have questions about the homework Eugene and I are more than happy to field them.

Policy on Late Homework: Late homeworks will be accepted at 50% credit, up to three calendar days late. Homeworks more than three days late will not be accepted.



Supplemental Notes.