The Reissner-Nordström metric

Abstract: A brief review of special and general relativity including some classical electrodynamics is given. We then present a detailed derivation of the Reissner-Nordström metric. The derivation is done by solving the Einstein-Maxwell equations for a spherically symmetric electrically charged body. The physics of this spacetime is then studied. This includes gravitational time dilation and redshift, equations of motion for both massive and massless non-charged particles derived from the geodesic equation and equations of motion for a massive charged particle derived with lagrangian formalism. Finally, a quick discussion of the properties of a Reissner-Nordström black hole is given.