Course

General Relativity and Cosmology (FYS600)

The course gives an introduction to the General Theory of Relativity and its cosmological consequences.


Course description for study year 2025-2026. Please note that changes may occur.

Facts

Course code

FYS600

Credits (ECTS)

10

Semester tution start

Spring

Language of instruction

English

Number of semesters

1

Exam semester

Spring

Content

NB! This is an elective course and may be cancelled if fewer than 10 students are enrolled by January 20th for the spring semester.

The equivalence principle, metric, space time curvature, tensor analysis, Einsteins field equations, the Schwarzschild solution, tests of general relativity, relativistic stars, gravitational collapse, black holes, gravitational waves, homogenous and isotropic universe models, the early universe.

Learning outcome

The students shall master the physical principles and the mathematical formalism of the General Theory of Relativity, and know its most important physical consequences. They shall have knowledge of basic cosmological consequences and central cosmological models. They shall be able to comprehend the scientific literature of the field and use the theory to independently analyze simple problems.

Required prerequisite knowledge

One of the following alternatives:
Analytical Mechanics and Field Theory (FYS500)
Mathematical Modelling (MAT500)

Recommended prerequisites

Astronomy (FYS110), Electromagnetism and Special Relativity (FYS300), Analytical Mechanics and Field Theory (FYS500), Mathematical Modelling (MAT500)

Exam

Form of assessment Weight Duration Marks Aid
Oral exam 1/1 1 Hours Letter grades None permitted


Oral exam is individual

Course teacher(s)

Head of Department:

Bjørn Henrik Auestad

Course coordinator:

Alex Bentley Nielsen

Method of work

6 hours lectures and problem solving per week.

Open for

Single Course Admission to PhD-courses
Admission to Single Courses at the Faculty of Science and Technology
City and Regional Planning - Master of Science Computer Science - Master of Science Degree Programme Environmental Engineering - Master of Science Degree Programme Industrial Economics - Master of Science Degree Programme Robot Technology and Signal Processing - Master's Degree Programme Structural and Mechanical Engineering - Master of Science Degree Programme Advanced teacher education for levels 8-13 Mathematics and Physics - Master of Science Degree Programme Mathematics and Physics - Five Year Integrated Master's Degree Programme Offshore Field Development Technology - Master of Science Degree Programme Industrial Asset Management - Master of Science Degree Programme Marine and Offshore Technology - Master of Science Degree Programme Offshore Technology - Master's Degree Programme Petroleum Geosciences Engineering - Master of Science Degree Programme Petroleum Engineering - Master of Science Degree Programme Master's Degree Programme in Societal Safety, Specialisation in Technical Social Safety Risk Management - Master's Degree Programme (Master i teknologi/siviling.)

Course assessment

There must be an early dialogue between the course supervisor, the student union representative and the students. The purpose is feedback from the students for changes and adjustments in the course for the current semester.In addition, a digital course evaluation must be carried out at least every three years. Its purpose is to gather the students experiences with the course.
The course description is retrieved from FS (Felles studentsystem). Version 1