AMATH 475Introduction to General Relativity
- Units
- 0.50
- Faculty
- Mathematics
- Subject
- Applied Mathematics
- Cross-listed
- PHYS 476
When it runs
- F24
- W25
- S25
- F25
- W26
- S26
- F26
- W27
- S27
Ran in 3 of the last 7 terms. Winter 2027: scheduled, 2 lecture sections. Spring 2027: schedule not out yet.
Tensor analysis. Curved space-time and the Einstein field equations. The Schwarzschild solution and applications. The Friedmann-Robertson-Walker cosmological models.
Prerequisites
- Complete all of the following
- Must have completed at least 1 of the following:
- Must have completed at least 1 of the following:
- Students must be in level 4A or higher
- Enrolled in an Honours Faculty of Mathematics or a Faculty of Science program
Antirequisites
None listed.
Leads to
No course lists it as a requisite.
Winter 2027 sections
| Section | Class | Enrolled | Meets |
|---|---|---|---|
| LEC 001 | 5581 | 0 / 23 | MW 14:30–15:50 |
| LEC 701 | 2269 | 17 / 9999 | Online or by arrangement |
| TUT 101 | 5984 | 0 / 23 | F 16:00–17:20 |
Reviewed on UW Flow
33% liked it8% easy67% useful
From 3 ratings and 2 comments on UW Flow. The most helpful comments, quoted as written, without names. Read them all on UW Flow.
This course really needs a preparatory course (which will hopefully soon be introduced) in GR notation, differential geometry, and so on; since a lot of material is compressed into 4 months and most students feel quite lost.
May 2017 · didn’t like it · 1 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this
Very interesting course, very math heavy course too! The physics of General Relativity are introduced and taught well.
Many of these topics require math not normal covered in the prerequisite chain for this course though. Mathematical concepts (Tensors, Einstein Notation, Differential Geometry, Manifolds) are introduced quickly and you will have to master them on your own. I recommend you take PMATH 365 (Differential Geometry) and even PMATH 465 (Manifolds) if you want to get a leg up on those topics. At the time of writing, there's no dedicated math course on tensors (although Eduardo is pushing to have a Math Phys foundation course), but AMATH 361 (Continuum Mechanics) also introduces…May 2020 · liked itOn UW FlowRemove this
Discussed on r/uwaterloo
13 posts and comments in 12 threads mention AMATH 475, December 2011 to December 2024. Quoted word for word, newest first; each reply sits under the post and the comment that started its branch. Search r/uwaterloo for newer posts.
Winter 2023
Math courses without a midterm 0 points, 3 comments
u/Yu-Li: “amath 474”
u/LostPizza3290: “is amath 474 harder than amath 475?”
Fall 2022
Mathematical physics BM vs BS 2 points, 5 comments
“Hi, I'm entering my final year of high school and as such I began looking at applications for programs I want to join (mostly physics related). …”
u/jollymaker: “They are essentially the same program the only difference will be the upper-year class requirements. You also may have mathematicians teaching some of your classes compared to physicists in the …”
u/void_nemesis: “… For example, the GR course is PHYS 476/AMATH 475/AMATH 675, and it's all one class taught by the same prof. …”
Spring 2022
Mathematical physics Course blueprint recommendations 3 points, 21 comments
“Hey everyone, I’m going into the mathematical physics program at Waterloo next year and I was wondering if anyone had any recommendations on a sort of blueprint I could follow for courses because …”
u/Yu-Li: “… 475 (get override request) / PHYS 468 Change coop sequence 4A winter: AMATH 474 PMATH 863 AMATH 475 PHYS 359 One more physics course you like (I would choose from quantum computing/ continuum mechanics/ computational physics) Then do more research coop terms and study terms in …”
4xx math courses 4 points, 10 comments
“Are there any 4xx math courses that only require a 1st or second year course as a prerequisite? For example pmath340 only requires math135, but I was wondering if there are any other math classes …”
u/TheRealArjun: “AMATH 456, 475 (not sure if pmath majors usually take those Calc 4, ODE 1 prereqs), CS 467 / PHYS 467 / CO 481 (same course), CS 436, 487”
Winter 2020
The Interesting Tale of Eduardo Martin-Martinez - AMATH 495, AMATH 475 32 points, 10 comments
Fall 2019
AMATH 473 vs PHYS 454 and AMATH 475 vs PHYS 476 0 points, 7 comments
u/supermod111: “I am in mathematical physics (2A), and I was wondering what are the differences between the two courses in each pairing, since I will take one from each in 4th year. …”
Winter 2018
AMATH 475/PHYS 476 3 points, 2 comments
u/amath475tawrong: “Anyone else find the TAs have marked the midterm and first two assignments incorrectly. Got 80-90 on both assignments and midterm but there's nothing wrong with my solution.”
AMATH 475 midterm 1 point, 1 comment
Fall 2017
PSA: UWCourseLinker back up, disabled by default, call with [[course code]] 39 points, 31 comments
u/RayDWatson: “Testing all course codes 1/61: [[ACC604]] [[ACC605]] [[ACC606]] [[ACC607]] [[ACC608]] [[ACC609]] [[ACC610]] [[ACC611]] [[ACC620]] [[ACC621]] [[ACC622]] [[ACC623]] [[ACC624]] [[ACC625]] [[ACC626]] …”
u/RayDWatson: “… [[AMATH451]] [[AMATH453]] [[AMATH455]] [[AMATH456]] [[AMATH463]] [[AMATH473]] [[AMATH475]] [[AMATH477]] [[AMATH495]] [[AMATH655]] [[AMATH663]] [[AMATH673]] [[AMATH675]] [[AMATH690]]”
u/UWCourseLinker: “… AMATH 456 - Calculus of Variations AMATH 463 - Fluid Mechanics AMATH 473 - Quantum Theory 2 AMATH 475 - Introduction to General Relativity AMATH 477 - Statistical Mechanics AMATH 495 - Reading Course AMATH 655 - Control Theory AMATH 663 - Fluid Mechanics AMATH 673 - Quantum …”
Winter 2017
Who was everyone's favourite prof this past term? Favourite course? 19 points, 57 comments
u/ChaikaAce: “Peter Levine Eduardo Martin-Martinez. Incredibly passionate prof, really loved his lectures. I will probably pick the upper year physics courses just to try get him again. Favorite course... 200A?”
u/ph0tone: “He's really passionate, but his Amath 475 seemed quite foggy for many.”
Winter 2012
What are the best AMATH 4xx courses? 5 points, 7 comments
“I need atleast three 4th year AMATH courses for my degree (although I might take more). So far the only one I've mostly decided on is General Relativity. What are the most interesting ones? …”
[deleted]: “… I took AMATH 473 (quantum theory 2) and AMATH 463 (fluid mechanics) last term, and I am currently taking AMATH 475 (general relativity) and AMATH 455 (control theory). What is your background? What degree are you pursuing, and what kind of courses do you have under your belt? …”
Fall 2011
What's your most/least favourite course? 12 points, 77 comments
“Favourite: Algebra. MATH 135. Least Favourite: Linear Algebra. MATH 136. Frigging hate matrices. Tell us what your favourite/least favourite courses are and why! …”
u/iconwealth: “… but it's probably AMATH 475 / PHYS 476 general relativity. I absolutely love general relativity and have been addicted to it ever since (I should get back to writing a paper in the subject...). Then again I love most higher level applied mathematics courses soo.... …”
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