Project 6

You may work alone or in a group of up to 4 people. Prepare a 7-10 minute presentation. Your group presentation should include most or all of the following: the metric form equation ds2 or ds, what the metric form represents physically; the curvature of the metric; geodesics; physically interesting features; historical significance and history of the related people; significance in current research. Metric forms will be assigned on a first-come-first-served basis:

  • Brinkmann coordinates
  • de Sitter metric
  • Eddington-Finkelstein coordinates
  • Friedmann-Lemaitre-Robertson-Walker (FLRW) metric
  • Kerr metric
  • Reissner-Nordstrom metric
  • Sasakian metric
  • Schwartzschild metric
  • Wormhole metric
  • Alcubierre metric or warp drive metric
  • Other intersting metrix forms may be approved.

    To search for information about your metric, examine books in the library and in my office. In addition, use creative web searching: metric form, metric tensor, manifold, coordinates... Your presentation will be graded on the depth of mathematics, history, and physical applications, on eye contact, flow, and the time constraints, and on whether you have included the information listed above, defined all terms, and most importantly explained everything in your own words.

    I would suggest that you use office hours to help process the information you find on the web and in books, especially when the information is presented in different notation and language. For example, the metric form may be listed in many different ways.

    You will either wish to create a digital presentation or to plan to write on the board.