Lectures on gravitation

1. Basics of geometry and relativity. 1.1. Two dimensional geometry. 1.2. Inertial and gravitational masses. 1.3. Relativity -- 2. Relativistic dynamics. 2.1. Relativistic point particle. 2.2. Current and charge densities. 2.3. Maxwell's equations in the presence of sources. 2.4. Motion of a charged particle in EM field. 2.5. Energy-momentum tensor. 2.6. Angular momentum -- 3. Principle of general covariance. 3.1. Principle of equivalence. 3.2. Principle of general covariance. 3.3. Tensor densities -- 4. Affine connection and covariant derivative. 4.1. Parallel transport of a vector. 4.2. Christoffel symbol. 4.3. Covariant derivative of contravariant tensors. 4.4. Metric compatibility. 4.5. Covariant derivative of covariant and mixed tensors. 4.6. Electromagnetic analogy. 4.7. Gradient, divergence and curl -- 5. Geodesic equation. 5.1. Covariant differentiation along a curve. 5.2. Curvature from derivatives. 5.3. Parallel transport along a closed curve. 5.4. Geodesic equation. 5.5. Derivation of geodesic equation from a Lagrangian -- 6. Applications of the geodesic equation. 6.1. Geodesic as representing gravitational effect. 6.2. Rotating coordinate system and the Coriolis force. 6.3. Gravitational red shift. 6.4. Twin paradox and general covariance. 6.5. Other equations in the presence of gravitation -- 7. Curvature tensor and Einstein's equation. 7.1. Curvilinear coordinates versus gravitational field. 7.2. Definition of an inertial coordinate frame. 7.3. Geodesic deviation. 7.4. Properties of the curvature tensor. 7.5. Einstein's equation. 7.6. Cosmological constant. 7.7. Initial value problem. 7.8. Einstein's equation from an action -- 8. Schwarzschild solution. 8.1. Line element. 8.2. Connection. 8.3. Solution of the Einstein equation. 8.4. Properties of the Schwarzschild solution. 8.5. Isotropic coordinates -- 9. Tests of general relativity. 9.1. Radar echo experiment. 9.2. Motion of a particle in a Schwarzschild background. 9.3. Motion of light rays in a Schwarzschild background. 9.4. Perihelion advance of Mercury -- 10. Black holes. 10.1. Singularities of the metric. 10.2. Singularities of the Schwarzschild metric. 10.3. Black holes -- 11. Cosmological models and the big bang theory. 11.1. Homogeneity and isotropy. 11.2. Different models of the universe. 11.3. Hubble's law. 11.4. Evolution equation. 11.5. Big bang theory and blackbody radiation

This book is a compilation of the lectures for a one-semester course on gravitation at the University of Rochester. Starting from a simple description of geometry, the topics are systematically developed to the big bang theory with a simple derivation of the cosmic background temperature. Several informative examples are worked out in detail as well