PH5011 General Relativity

2025 to 2026 Semester 1

Curricular information may be subject to change

Further information on which modules are specific to your programme.

Key module information

SCOTCAT credits

The Scottish Credit Accumulation and Transfer (SCOTCAT) system allows credits gained in Scotland to be transferred between institutions. The number of credits associated with a module gives an indication of the amount of learning effort required by the learner. European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) credits are half the value of SCOTCAT credits.

SCQF level

SCQF level 11

The Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) provides an indication of the complexity of award qualifications and associated learning and operates on an ascending numeric scale from Levels 1-12 with SCQF Level 10 equating to a Scottish undergraduate Honours degree.

Availability restrictions

Normally only taken in the final year of an MPhys or MSci programme involving the School, or as part of MSc Astrophysics.

Module coordinator

Dr M Dominik

This information is given as indicative. Staff involved in a module may change at short notice depending on availability and circumstances.

Module description

This module provides an introduction to the theory of General Relativity. After laying the required foundations in mathematics and theoretical physics, it demonstrates how relativistic mechanics differs from non-relativistic mechanics. The module concludes with discussing observable effects of General Relativity and how they affect our understanding of nature and the Universe.

Relationship to other modules

Pre-requisites

BEFORE TAKING THIS MODULE YOU MUST PASS PH3081 OR PASS PH3082 OR ( PASS MT2506 AND PASS MT2507 )

Assessment pattern

2-hour Written Examination = 100%

Re-assessment

Oral Re-assessment, capped at grade 7

Learning and teaching methods and delivery

Weekly contact

3 lectures or tutorials

Scheduled learning hours

The number of compulsory student:staff contact hours over the period of the module.

Guided independent study hours

120

The number of hours that students are expected to invest in independent study over the period of the module.

Intended learning outcomes

Understand the fundamental concepts of the theory of General Relativity
Practice tensor analysis to describe physical phenomena in curved space-time - derive the equations of motion from a given metric tensor
Compute the general-relativistic effects relevant to astronomy
Compute the effects of general relativity in modern technology

Additional information from school

For guidance on AS and PH modules please consult the School Handbook, at https://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/physics-astronomy/students/ug/timetables-handbooks/