Tensors and Applications Resit 14 August 2016 Answers

The following resit exam has 6 questions with a varying number of subquestions on 3 pages.
All subquestions have the same weight in the final mark.
Please write legibly, illegible answers are invalid by definition. Mark all papers clearly with
your name. Make sure to clearly indicate for each answer the question number, e.g. 1(a).
The following formulae are given:
Christoffel symbol = 12 g ( g + g g )
Riemann tensor R = +
Ricci tensor R = R
Gaussian curvature R = R

Question 1: Tensors
(a) Give at least one definition of a tensor.

An multidimensional object with indices that transforms for each index as a local
linear coordinate transformation, or
a multilineair map from a direct product of tangent and cotangent spaces to R.
Grades: one of above cases: 1; that transforms as a tensor 0.4; correct but with
examplar number of indices 0.9; (metric consistent) transformation 0.4.
Prove for each of the following two objects if it is a tensor in three dimensional space with
Carthesian co-ordinates xi , where the indices i run from 1 to 3:

1
i
(b) u = 1 ;
1
0 i0
Not a tensor: ui 6= x
xi
ui . (in fact it is a tensor density.)
Grades: not a tensor correct: 0.6; proof 0.4.

dx1 /dt
(c) for some smooth functions of a real parameter t, x1 (t), x2 (t) and x3 (t): ui = dx2 /dt .
dx3 /dt
0 i0 i0 i i0
Tensor: ui = dxdt = x dx
xi dt
= x
xi
ui .
Grades: tensor correct: 0.6; proof 0.4.

Given a 3-dimensional manifold with metric (indices i and j run from 1 to 3)

1/(x3 )2 for i = j = 1;
3 2
gi j = 1/(x ) for i = j = 2 or i = j = 3;
0 for i 6= j.

1

3
(d) Calculate the covariant vector corresponding to the contravariant vector xi = 2 .
6
j
xi = gi j x
x1 = g1 j xj = g11 x1 = 3/62 = 1/12
x2 = g2 j xj = g22 x2 = 2/62 = 1/18
x3 = g3 j xj = g33 x3 = 6/62 = 1/6
xi = (1/12, 1/18, 1/6)
Grades: correct: 1; symbolic formula correct 0.6; 1/(x3 )2 not filled in 0.8;

(e) Calculate the corresponding contravariant metric g i j .

g i j gj k = ki g i j = ki /gj k = 1/gj i
where this implication can only be made because gi j = 0 for i 6= j.

(x3 )2 for i = j = 1;
ij 3 2
g = (x ) for i = j = 2 or i = j = 3;
0 for i 6= j.

Grades: correct: 1; symbolic formula correct 0.6.

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Question 2: Special Theory of Relativity
(a) Give the metric of four dimensional Minkowski space.
00 = 1, 11 = 1, 22 = 1, 33 = 1 and = 0 for 6= .
Grades: correct: 1; (-1,1,1,1) metric also 1;
0 0
(b) Given the Lorentz transformation in four dimensional Minkowski space x = x ,
0
what is the condition that must fulfil to enforce invariant length conservation
under the transform ?
It must leave the metric invariant under symmetry transformation:
0 0 = 0 0 =
Grades: correct: 1; Rotation or Lorentz boost: 0.6; invariant length invariant 0.6;
|det( )| = 1: 1.

(c) Prove that the four-vector p = m dx /dt with t = x0 does not transforms like a tensor
under the above mentioned Lorentz transformation.
x transforms like a vector. t is just one isolated component of a four vector and does
not transform as a scaler (or any other tensor form), so p cannot transforms like a
vector.
Grades: correct: 1; four-velocity transforms as vector 0.5; start of transformation equa-
lity 0.2; a particular transformation: 0.4.

(d) Calculate the invariant length of the p defined in (c) and reduce it to the simplest
expression possible. s  
p
1 p
|p| = p p = m (dx /dt) (dx /dt) = m (1, ~v ) = m (1 v 2 )
~v
Grades: invariant length correct: 0.4; calculation 0.4; answer correct 0.2.

Question 3: Electrodynamics in Minkowski space

(a) Construct the components of the anti-symmetric Electromagnetic tensor F from

writing the equation for the Lorentz force
 
F~ = q E ~ + ~v B
~

in the manifestly Lorentz invariant form:

dp
= qu F .
d
F i = dpi /dt = (1/) dpi /d = (1/) q (u0 F0 i + u1 F1 i + u2 F2 i + u3 F3 i )
~ i)
= q (cF0 i + v 1 F1 i + v 2 F2 i + v 3 F3 i )) = q (E i + (~v B)
i
So the part that is straightforward in i gives: F0 = E i /c

3
 The outer product gives component by component:
1: v 2 B 3 v 3 B 2 = v 1 F1 1 + v 2 F2 1 + v 3 F3 1 F1 1 = 0, F2 1 = B 3 , F3 1 = B 2
2: v 3 B 1 v 1 B 3 = v 1 F1 2 + v 2 F2 2 + v 3 F3 2 F1 2 = B 3 , F2 2 = 0, F3 2 = B 1
3: v 1 B 2 v 2 B 1 = v 1 F1 3 + v 2 F2 3 + v 3 F3 3 F1 3 = B 2 , F2 3 = B 1 , F3 3 = 0
From this we get:
?? E 1 /c E 2 /c E 3 /c
?? 0 B 3 B 2
F = ?? B 3

0 B1
?? B 2 B 1 0
Completing this to an anti-symmetric tensor gives:

0 E 1 /c E 2 /c E 3 /c
E 1 /c 0 B 3 B 2
F =
E 2 /c B 3

0 B1
3 2 1
E /c B B 0

Grades: u and v connection 0.2; equation of Lorentz invariant and classical expression
0.2; component by component 0.4; completion to anti-symmetric tensor 0.2; notie van
de correcte vorm van F 0.2.

(b) Given electric field E~ and magnetic field B ~ for an observer O, give the electric and
magnetic fields E~ 0 and B
~ 0 for an observer O0 with parallel co-ordinate axes who moves
at a constant velocity V in the z-direction with respect to O.
= V /c, Lorentz transform:

0 0
0 1 0 0
0 =
0

0 1 0
0 0

0 0
0 0 1 0 0
=
0

0 1 0
0 0

0 0
F0 = 0 F

E 3 /c E 1 /c + B 2 E 2 /c B 1 E 3 /c
E 1 /c 0 B3 B 2
= 0
E 2 /c

B 3 0 B1
E 3 /c E 1 /c + B 2 E 2 /c B 1 E 3 /c

0 E 1 /c + B 2 E 2 /c B 1 E 3 /c
1 2 3
E /c + B 0 B E 1 /c B 2
=
E 2 /c B 1

B 3 0 E 2 /c + B 1
E 3 /c E 1 /c + B 2 E 2 /c B 1 0

4
 So:
E 1 /c + B 2
~ 0 = E 2 /c B 1
E
E3
and
B 1 E 2 /c
~ 0 = B 2 + E 1 /c
B
B3
Grades: Lorentz transform correct 0.6, calculation correct 0.4.

Question 4: Integrating in different co-ordinate systems

(a) Calculate the following integral given in three dimensional Carthesian space

e((x ) +(x ) +(x ) )/2

1 2 2 2 3 2
Z Z Z
p d3 x,
x1 = x2 = x3 = (x1 )2 + (x2 )2 + (x3 )2

where d3 x = dx1 dx2 dx3 . Hint: transform to spherical co-ordinates.

e((x ) +(x ) +(x ) )/2

1 2 2 2 3 2
Z Z Z
p d3 x
1 2 2 2
(x ) + (x ) + (x ) 3 2
x1 = x2 = x3 =
2 2
er /2 2
Z Z Z
= r sin() drdd
r=0 =0 phi=0 r
Z
2 /2
= 4 r er dr
Zr=0

2 /2
= 4 er d(r2 /2) = 4
r=0

Grades: Spherical coordinates ok 0.3; Jacobian ok 0.5; calculation ok 0.2.

(b) Prove that on any n-dimensional manifold with co-ordinates x and with g the deter-

minant of the metric g the volume element g dn x = g dx1 . . . dxn is invariant
under co-ordinate transformations. Under co-ordinate transformation:
 0 
n 0
 x 
d x =   dn x
x

and
   2  2
x x

0
   x   x 
|g | = |Det(g0 0 )| = Det
 g )  =   |Det(g )| =  x0  |g|
 
x0 x 0   x0 

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Hence the volume element
 x  p  x0  n
   
p 0
p
|g 0 | d x =  0  |g|   d x = |g|dn x
n
x x

Grades: Jacobian of density 0.4; Jacobian of g transformation 0.4; full proof 0.2; invari-
ant length of |dx dx | = |g |dx dx 0.8; using transformation property of Levi-Civita
symbol 0.8.

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Question 5: Flat or curved
Given the two dimensional sphere with co-ordinates (, ) embedded in R3 with Carthesian
metric and co-ordinates (x1 , x2 , x3 ) as:
x1 = cos() cos()
x2 = cos() sin()
x3 = sin()
(a) Calculate the metric elements g , where and run over and , for this space.

1 f or i = j =
gi j = cos2 f or i = j =
0 f or i = , j = or i = , j =

Grades: 1/cos, inverted coordinate derivative matrix 0.5; no off-diagonal elements 0.5;
only embeddingsmetric formula correct 0.5;
(b) Calculate the Christoffel symbol elements for this space.
The only non-zero elements are:
= = tan
= sin cos
Grades: good application of formula: 0.6; calculation 0.4.
(c) Calculate the Riemann tensor elements for this space.
The only non-zero elements are:
R = R = cos2
and
R = R = 1
Grades: only 1 independent 0.3; wrong index raising -0.4;
(d) Calculate the Ricci tensor elements for this space.

R = R + R = 1
R = R + R = 0
R = R + R = 0
R = R + R = cos2
Grades:
(e) Calculate the Gaussian curvature for this space.

R = g R + g R = 1 + cos2 /cos = 2
Grades: metric not correct applied 0.5; position dependent answer in correct calculation,
but not noticed: -0.4;

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 (f) Give the covariant derivative Di in this space working on a vector Aj (i, j = , ) in
terms of the partial derivatives.

Di Aj = i Aj + j ik Ak
Grades: wrong sign -0.4;
(g) Write down the Geodesic equation for this space and work in terms of and .

2 xi j
i x x
k
+ jk =0
2
Leads to the coupled equations:
 2
2 x x
j k

2
= jk = sin cos

2 j k
x x
2
= jk = 2 tan

Grades: geodesic equation: 0.6; working out in and 0.4; if dot notation and not
mentioned differentiation wrt. what -0.3.
(h) Give the argument(s) as to why Newtons first law does or does not hold in this space.
Newtons first does not work, because geodesics can cross, hence two objects with no
external forces working on them can have a relative acceleration, hence an object can
appear accelerated to an observer without any force acting.
Grades: no straight lines: 0.5; not flat 0.5;

Question 6: Classical mechanics in curved space

Consider a flat plane with co-ordinates described in R3 with Carthesian metric (indices i, j
run from 1 to 3) 
1 for i = j
i j =
0 for i 6= j
(a) Calculate the geodesic equation for this space.

2 xi j
i x x
k
2 xi
+ jk = =0
t2 t t t2
because in this coordinate system the Christoffel symbol vanishes. The derivative is
with respect to the classical mechanical time t.
Grades: full geodesic equation 0.6; vanishing Christoffel symbol 0.4.
(b) Which of Newtons laws is the equation you found at (a) ?
This is Newtons first law.
Grades: correct 1; special case of F=ma 0.7;

8
Take the same space in spherical co-ordinates (r, , ) with metric (indices i, j run over r,
and )

1 for i = j = r
r2 for i = j =

i j =

r2 sin2 for i = j =
0 for i 6= j

(c) Calculate the set of geodesic equations for this space.

2 xi j
i x x
k
+ jk =0
t2 t t
In this case the non-zero Christoffel symbol elements are:

r = r
r = r sin2
r = r = 1/r
= sin cos
r = r = 1/r
= = cos / sin

Hence:
2 2
2r j k
2r
 
r x x
2
+ jk = r r sin =0
t2 t t t2 t t
 2
2 j
x x
k
2 2 r
+ jk = + sin cos =0
t2 t t t 2 r t t t
2 j k
x x 2 2 r cos
+ jk = + + 2 =0
t2 t t t2 r t t sin t t
Grades: full geodesic equation 0.4; Christoffel symbol 0.4; calculation ok: 0.2.

(d) Why does this not correspond to one of Newtons laws in these co-ordinates ?
Bad choice of co-ordinates
Grades: binary: any reasonable answer 1; untrue answers or answers void of meaning
0.