ASP3051 Relativity and cosmology
Faculty of Science
ASP3051 Relativity and cosmology is a level 3, 6-credit-point, undergraduate unit from the Faculty of Science, offered in 2021 in Semester 1 at Clayton. It has no prerequisites.
- Credit points
- 6
- Offered in 2021
- Semester 1
- Clayton
- Assessment
- Exam 60%
- and 4 other tasks
This is the 2021 handbook entry. See the 2027 entry.
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Requisites
Before ASP3051
No prerequisites or corequisites besides the enrolment rules below.
After ASP3051
No unit lists ASP3051 as a prerequisite in the 2021 handbook.
Overview
Newtonian physics and Einstein's special theory of relativity, the geometry of space-time, the Minkowski metric, Lorentz transformations, k-calculus, and four-vectors; the physics of space-time, momentum and energy; classical paradoxes; general relativity, including other metrics, black holes and gravitational waves; cosmology, including relevant observations and the cosmic background radiation; the expansion and evolution of the universe, primordial elements and recent progress.
Offerings in 2021
| Teaching period | Campus | Mode |
|---|---|---|
| First semester | Clayton | On campus |
Assessment
- Applied classesOther18%
- Lab report 1 - Special relativityReport6%
- Lab report 2 - Detecting gravitational wavesReport6%
- In-class testIn class test10%
- Examination (3 hours and 10 minutes)Exam60%
Learning outcomes
When you finish this unit, you should be able to:
- 1
Describe the reasons for supplanting Newtonian physics with relativity theory;
- 2
Use special relativity to predict the behaviour of relativistic particles;
- 3
Discuss the relativistic paradoxes in an informed way;
- 4
Discuss the experimental and theoretical foundations of general relativity;
- 5
Discuss our current understanding of the beginnings, nature, and fate of the Universe;
- 6
Evaluate the current uncertainties in cosmology;
- 7
Analyse physical problems geometrically, thinking logically in a theory at odds with common experience;
- 8
Use mathematics to solve complex problems;
- 9
Interpret complex mathematical results and communicate them in written form.
Workload and teaching
- Workshops24 hours
- Lectures36 hours
- Teaching approachOnline learning
The workload to achieve the learning outcomes for this unit is 144 hours spread across the semester (roughly 12 hours per week) - approximately an even mixture of attendance at scheduled activities and self-scheduled study time. Learning activities comprise a mixture of instructor directed, peer directed and self-directed learning, which includes face-to-face and online engagement.
Where it fits
ASP3051 is part of 3 areas of study in the 2021 handbook.
Contacts
- Chief Examiners
- Professor Ilya Mandel
- Unit Coordinators
- Associate Professor Duncan Galloway
Common questions
What are the prerequisites for ASP3051?
ASP3051 has no prerequisites, but enrolment rules apply.
When is ASP3051 offered?
In 2021, ASP3051 runs in Semester 1 at Clayton.
Does ASP3051 have an exam?
Yes. The exam is worth 60% of the final mark, alongside 4 other tasks.
Which majors and minors include ASP3051?
ASP3051 is part of Astrophysics and Physics.