Introduction to general relativity and black holes

Abstract

The Theory of General Relativity was created more than 100 years ago, and it was a revolution in theoretical physics and in the way we interpret gravitational effects, and still today its complexity and elegancy to describe the universe in which we live are amazing. It is one of the most tested theories, but until now no experiment refuted its predictions. The theory works as a tool for studies in cosmology; origin and fate of the universe; astrophysics; geodesics around massive objects; black holes and many more topics. Although there are some indications that general relativity is not the final theory to describe our universe, there are efforts, together with quantum mechanics, in the realm of quantum gravitation towards the "theory of everything". Due to the enormous capacity to describe our universe and because it is also the starting point for more elaborate studies in other fields of theoretical physics, the research in general relativity has a central importance for the advance of contemporary physics. Hence, this project aims to provide the first tools and experiences for the student, and also the necessary guidance, so that he can acquire a solid base in the theory and be prepared to conduct his research career. Besides the foundations of the theory, we will apply it to study black holes, the definitions, differences and influences in massive particles and light, making a complete description of the phenomena. (AU)