Date of Award
Spring 5-7-2016
Document Type
Honors Project
Degree Name
Bachelor of Science
Department
Mathematics
First Advisor
Chiang, Yuan-Jen
Second Advisor
Helmstutler, Randall
Major or Concentration
Mathematics
Abstract
Classically, the physics of the universe is described by Newton's Laws of Motion and Newton's Law of Universal Gravitation. In most cases, the results predicted by Newton's theories accurately agree with experimental observations. However, under certain limitations, classical theories may yield slight deviation from observations, such as when the speed of an object approaches the speed of light. At the extreme, classical theory completely fails to explain the motion of photons, which are massless particles of light. In 1915, Albert Einstein published the General Theory of Relativity. Einstein's theory provides a new perspective to a better understanding of the physics describing this universe. In this paper, we attempt to introduce some of the prerequisite material in differential geometry and investigate the general theory of relativity, along with some of its solutions from a mathematical point of view. We study homogeneous and isotropic cosmology, and the Schwarzschild solution. Finally, we will discuss some of their applications and significance.
Recommended Citation
Zhang, Pengcheng, "Homogeneous and Isotropic Cosmology, the Schwarzschild Solution, and Applications" (2016). Student Research Submissions. 62.
https://scholar.umw.edu/student_research/62