Homework 1.

1 Solutions
) system to the ( 1. In the transformation from the ( ) coordinate ( ) system, the position vector changed from to . Show by partial differentiation only, that the basis vectors in respective coordinates are * + and { } respectively, ( )
( )

Differentiating with respect to ( ( * Similarly, ( )

and respectively shows ) ) + , * ( ); +

( )

and

)is 2. If the position vector in another system with coordinate variables ( ( ), use the same method to find the basis vectors in this system also. Similar to the examples above, ( ) ( ( ) ) ( )

because we are told that is a function of both and . This shows that the basis vectors, rather than being constants, vary with and throughout the domain. These can no longer be treated as constants like the Cartesian basis vectors.
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3. In Problem 1 above, if the transformation from Cartesian to the other system ) ) ) is given explicitly as ( , ( and ( , find explicit expression for the basis vectors reciprocal basis vectors [Hint: . Also find the -

We wrote a Mathematica code to make these differentiations easy. Here is how it looks like:

Comparing the above to question1, it is clear that, ( ) ( ) , , , , -

and

so that

In this double sum, only two out of the nine terms survive; these are:

, -

, -)

, -

, -

4. Are these basis vectors orthogonal? Are they normalized? The matrix formed by constructing the respective scalar products is

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[ This shows that except for orthogonal but not normalized.

] . This shows that the system is

5. Find the dual bases for the Cartesian system. To find the dual contravariant basis, we use the formula,

Let is call the covariant basis (it is customary to label the basis obtained by direct differentiation covariant) of the Cartesian * + and the contravariant basis * +. Now, so that, ; and . This shows that for the + Cartesian system, the dual bases coincide and * +or * * + * +. Both systems are orthogonal and normalized. 6. Find the reciprocal bases for the spherical coordinate systems. Are they orthogonal? Are they normalized? The transformation equations for the spherical system are, ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )

The natural basis can be found using the Mathematica code:

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) (

* ) ( )

( ) ( ( )

( ) )

( )

( )

( )+

( )

( )

( )

and ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) + for this ( ))

Using the same formula as above, it is easy to see that * system are ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( and 7. Find the metric tensor for each of the above systems. For the spherical system, the metric tensor is, ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )

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( , -

8. Find the determinant of the metric tensor and confirm in these cases that and that

Take a single case and go through the labour. 9. Beginning with the equation, and find the expression for , take a contraction with

So that 10.Elliptical Cylindrical Coordinates is defined by the position vector, ( ) ( )

Use Mathematica and show that this system of coordinates is orthogonal. Hint: , ( ( * * ( ) ( ) ) ) + ( ) ( ) + ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )) , , , , [ , - {* +}]

KroneckerProduct[g,g]//MatrixForm 11.Compare the results of KroneckerProduct[g,g]//MatrixForm In Q10 to ,* , , , , + ** ++, -

Explain what the two commands are doing differently.

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The two compute the metric tensors. The first leaves the Cartesian vector scalar products uncomputed. This defect is rectified by the second. 12.Repeat Q10, 11 for Spherical coordinates Done 13.Plot Coordinate surfaces for Elliptical Cylindrical coordinates using Mathematica. Emmanuel, find the Mathematica code I wrote to do this. 14.Simplify the following by employing the substitution properties of the Kronecker delta ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) , ( ) ( ) , ( )

15.Show that the moments of inertia ( ( ( ) ( ( ) ) ( ( ) ) ) ( )

defined by

) ( )

can be represented in the index notation as ) ( where material. ) and (

) is scalar density of the

16.Show that the Cylindrical Polar basis vectors, ( ) ( )

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Constitute an orthonormal system. [Hint: Show their magnitudes are unity and they are pairwise orthogonal]. Straightforward 17.Show that the contraction of a symmetric object with an antisymmetric object equals zero. For example given that that is antisymmetric, Show

18.Noting that does this tell about becomes,

observe that is perfectly antisymmetric. What It is symmetric. For example, let the equation

Clearly showing that proving symmetry for

. Setting .

gives the remaining results

19.For any tensor , define ( ( Clearly, ) ( ) ( ( ) )

( ))

). Show that

It also follows that, ( ) ( But Hence

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) )

( (

) )

( ( )

).