An introduction to Einstein's general relativity, the spacetime of special relativity, the principle of equivalence, gravity as geometry, the description of spacetime geometry, the spacetime of a relativistic star, solar system test of general relativity, gravitational collapse, black holes, cosmology.

Prerequisites: Physics 105A-B or Physics 103-104 with a minimum grade of C- in each.

4

Units

Optional

Grading

1, 2, 3

Passtime

None

Level Limit

Letters and science

College
ZEE A
Anthony Zee
2.5
19 reviews
PHELP1448
R
16:00 PM - 16:50 PM
0 / 33

PHELP1444
R
17:00 PM - 17:50 PM
0 / 33

Spring 2024 . Blaes O M
SH 1430
M W
11:00 AM - 12:15 PM
Spring 2025 . Blaes O M
PHELP1425
M W
11:00 AM - 12:15 PM
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PHYS 131 Blaes O M Spring 2025 Total: 37
PHYS 131 Blaes O M Spring 2024 Total: 34
See All
19
2.5
PHYS150 . Zee A 4 Years Ago

If you dont mind his somewhat tough stance towards the students, he is one of the best professors in physics. Very insightful and intuitive, like his nutshell series.

0 helpful 0 unhelpful
PHYS120 . Zee A 5 Years Ago

Getting a good grade is pretty easy. Also there is extra credit to boost your letter grade one level up. (So like A to A+). Some stuffs he taught seemed easy but hard to realize when you should use it. Lecture notes are not eligible but if you listen to lecture it would be fine. He s an old man trying to catch up with tech so its understandable.

0 helpful 0 unhelpful
PHYS120 . Zee A 5 Years Ago

Amazed by his stretch of mind and sharp intuition. Included common techniques(Landau common) in hw/exams. Just so brilliant. Hints are VERY on point, seriously. Wants students be independent. Wish I can think like him and makes physical sense out of random problems. Could be harsh on language. Just ask aggressively until un-confused. He likes that.

1 helpful 0 unhelpful
PHYS120 . Zee A 5 Years Ago

Says every question is "trivial" or "elementary" because he doesn't want to give an actual answer. Learned nothing. Easy class

0 helpful 0 unhelpful
PHYS150 . Zee A 5 Years Ago

I have taken many physics classes, but Zee's class gives me a feeling that he is actually trying to help me become a physicist. This class: fly by night physics, has all four core physics classes, mechanics, EM, quantum, and thermo, as prerequisite. He offers a way of thinking that combs through all four subjects elegantly.

1 helpful 0 unhelpful
PHYS120 . Zee A 6 Years Ago

Doesn't have a course website to force people to attend his poor lectures. Homeworks are often a few questions taken from textbooks and are simply not well conceived to challenge understanding of material. Midterm was too easy and final was too hard. Lectures are very boring and course is repetitive and not very rigorous. Waste of time.

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