18.950 Differential Geometry, Spring 2005

Abstract

This course is an introduction to differential geometry. Metrics, Lie bracket, connections, geodesics, tensors, intrinsic and extrinsic curvature are studied on abstractly defined manifolds using coordinate charts. Curves and surfaces in three dimensions are studied as important special cases. Gauss-Bonnet theorem for surfaces and selected introductory topics in special and general relativity are also analyzed. From the course home page: Course Description This course is an introduction to differential geometry of curves and surfaces in three dimensional Euclidean space. First and second fundamental forms, Gaussian and mean curvature, parallel transport, geodesics, Gauss-Bonnet theorem, complete surfaces, minimal surfaces and Bernstein's theorem are among the main topics studied.