F4051 Physics in spacetime

Faculty of Science
Spring 2025
Extent and Intensity
2/1/0. 2 credit(s) (fasci plus compl plus > 4). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
Teacher(s)
doc. Jörgen Linus Wulff, M.Sc., Ph.D. (lecturer)
doc. Jörgen Linus Wulff, M.Sc., Ph.D. (seminar tutor)
Guaranteed by
doc. Jörgen Linus Wulff, M.Sc., Ph.D.
Department of Theoretical Physics and Astrophysics – Physics Section – Faculty of Science
Contact Person: doc. Jörgen Linus Wulff, M.Sc., Ph.D.
Supplier department: Department of Theoretical Physics and Astrophysics – Physics Section – Faculty of Science
Prerequisites
Basic course in linear algebra and analysis.
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is also offered to the students of the fields other than those the course is directly associated with.
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
The student should become familiar with the mathematical formalism of special relativity from a spacetime perspective and be able to apply it to relevant physical problems in particle physics and electrodynamics.
Learning outcomes
- Understand the structure of special relativity from the principle of maximum proper time
- Understand causality and Lorentz transformations via spacetime diagrams
- Use these ideas to solve problems in particle kinematics and electrodynamics
Syllabus
  • - Measuring time; clocks; principle of maximum proper time
  • - Spacetime; spacetime diagrams; 4-velocity
  • - Simultaneity; causality; time dilation; length contraction;
  • - Lorentz transformations; Lorentz group
  • - 4-momentum; particle kinematics; massless particles; collisions; particle production
  • - Tensors; transformation rules; metric; currents; energy-momentum tensor
  • - Electrodynamics; unification of E and B; Maxwell's equations in relativistic form
Teaching methods
Lectures + Exercises
Assessment methods
Oral + Homework problems
Language of instruction
English
Further Comments
The course is taught annually.
The course is taught: every week.
The course is also listed under the following terms Spring 2019, Spring 2020, Spring 2021, Spring 2022, Spring 2023, Spring 2024.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Spring 2025, recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/sci/spring2025/F4051