General Relativity in the Undergraduate Physics Curriculum

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The discussion centers on the inclusion of General Relativity (GR) in undergraduate physics curricula, highlighting James Hartle's "physics first" approach as an effective introduction for students. Participants express enthusiasm for teaching GR at this level, noting that many students are interested but often lack the necessary mathematical background. The conversation also touches on the challenges of teaching complex topics like accelerated observers, with suggestions for alternative textbooks that address these concepts. Overall, there is a consensus that GR can be taught effectively to undergraduates, enhancing their understanding of fundamental physics. This approach could potentially enrich students' educational experiences in the field of physics.
  • #31
Sorry to resurrect this thread... but I stumbled upon the more-appropriate URL (from ucsb) that I intended to list in my post, #2, above.

http://online.itp.ucsb.edu/online/pcgm17/hartle/
"How to Teach Relativity to Undergraduates"
Jim Hartle, UCSB (Mar 10, 2001)
 

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