A4.17 B4.25

General Relativity
Part II, 2002

With respect to the Schwarzschild coordinates (r,θ,ϕ,t)(r, \theta, \phi, t), the Schwarzschild geometry is given by

ds2=(1rsr)1dr2+r2(dθ2+sin2θdϕ2)(1rsr)dt2d s^{2}=\left(1-\frac{r_{s}}{r}\right)^{-1} d r^{2}+r^{2}\left(d \theta^{2}+\sin ^{2} \theta d \phi^{2}\right)-\left(1-\frac{r_{s}}{r}\right) d t^{2}

where rs=2Mr_{s}=2 M is the Schwarzschild radius and MM is the Schwarzschild mass. Show that, by a suitable choice of (θ,ϕ)(\theta, \phi), the general geodesic can regarded as moving in the equatorial plane θ=π/2\theta=\pi / 2. Obtain the equations governing timelike and null geodesics in terms of u(ϕ)u(\phi), where u=1/ru=1 / r.

Discuss light bending and perihelion precession in the solar system.