BASICS
OF
NAME: Tiasha Singha
YEAR:1
TENSOR
SUMMARY ON TENSORS
TENSORS:
Tensors are an array of numbers or functions that transform according to
certain rules under change of coordinates. The dimension of a tensor when
raised to the power of its rank gives the components of the tensor.
A tensor with single number is called rank 0 tensor or scalar. It remains
unchanged under rotation of axes. Eg: Mass, Energy, Density
A tensor of rank 1 is called a vector. Eg: Velocity, Force
Stress is a rank 2 tensor as it describes things happening in 2 directions.
INDICES:
Any index used takes up values from 1 to n until stated otherwise.
Dummy Indices: An index that appears twice in a term and is summed over
implicitly.
Free Indices: An index which appears only once in a term and take up any
value independently.
EINSTEIN SUMMATION CONVENTION:
Any expression containing a twice repeated index stand for summation
automatically over the values 1,2,3,…,n of the repeated index. The free indices
would also have same range as summation indices until stated otherwise.
n
Accordingly we can write ∑ ai x i can be written as a i x i and it would indicate
i=1
summation.
KRONECKER DELTA:
{
δ ij = 1 i= j
0 i≠ j
For independent variables x1,x2,x3…xn ,
j
∂x j
k
=δ k
∂x
Also,
j j k
δk A = A
SUMMATION IDENTITIES:
COORDINATE TRANSFROMATIONS:
Consider 2 sets of variables (x1,x2,x3,..,xn) and (x1’,x2’,x3’,…xn’) which determine
the coordinates of point in a n-dimensional space in two different frames of
reference. These two sets are related as-
x1’=∅ 1(x1,x2,x3,..,xn)
x2’=∅ 2(x1,x2,x3,..,xn)
xn’=∅ n(x1,x2,x3,..,xn)
x μ ' =∅ μ(x1,x2,x3,…xi...,xn) for i=1,2,3… where ∅ μ function is independent,
continuous and differentiable.
The differentials dx 'μ transforms as,
' ∂ x μ' ∂ xμ' ∂ xμ' ∂ xμ '
dx μ= +
∂ x1 ∂ x2
+ ∂ x3
+...+
∂ xn
CONTRAVARIANT VECTOR:
Consider a set of n quantities 𝐴 1 ,𝐴 2 , 𝐴 3 , … 𝐴 𝑛 in a system of variables xi
and let these quantities have values 𝐴1 ‘𝐴2 ‘, 𝐴3 ‘, … 𝐴n ‘ in another co-
ordinate system of variables 𝑥𝜇 . If these quantities obey the transformation
relation A μ '= ∂ x then the quantities 𝐴𝑖 are said to be the components of a
∂x '
μ
contravariant vector or a contravariant tensor of first tank.
COVARIANT VECTOR:
Consider a set of n quantities 𝐴 1 ,𝐴 2 , 𝐴 3 , … 𝐴 𝑛 in a system of variables xi
and let these quantities have values 𝐴1 ‘𝐴2 ‘, 𝐴3 ‘, … 𝐴n ‘ in another system of
variables 𝑥𝜇 . If these quantities obey the transformation equations
∂ xi
A μ '= A then the quantities Aj are said to be the components of a covariant
∂ xμ ' i
vector or a covariant tensor of rank one
For 2ND RANK TENSOR
CONTRAVARIANT TENSOR:
If a quantity has a value Aij(I and j take independent values from 1 to n) in a
system of variables xi and value xuv in another system of variables x μ’. If these
quantities obey the transforming equation:
∂ xμ ' ∂ xϑ '
A μϑ = A
∂ x i ∂ x j ij
Then the quantities are said to be components of contravariant
tensor of 2nd rank.
COVARIANT TENSOR:
If a quantity has a value Aij(I and j take independent values from 1 to n) in a
system of variables xi and value xuv in another system of variables x μ’. If these
quantities obey the transforming equation:
∂ xi ∂ x j
A μϑ ' = A
∂ x μ ' ∂ x ϑ ' ij
The quantities are said to be components of covariant tensor of
2nd rank
MIXED TENSOR:
If a quantity has a value Aij(I and j take independent values from 1 to n) in a
system of variables xi and value xuv in another system of variables x μ’. If these
quantities obey the transforming equation:
∂ xμ ' ∂ x j
A μϑ ' = A
∂ x j ∂ x ϑ ' ij
The quantities are said to be components of mixed tensor of 2nd rank.
For higher rank tensors, similar rules are followed.
SYMMETRIC TENSORS: If two covariant or contravariant tensor indices can be
interchanged without altering the tensor, they are symmetric tensors. For
example,
ijk jik
Al = Al
The given tensor is symmetric with respect to i and j.
This property is independent of coordinate system.
SKEW-SYMMETRIC TENSOR: If the sign of two tensor alters but the magnitude
remains unchanged after interchanging the contravariant or covariant indices,
the are called anti-symmetric or skew symmetric tensors.This change of sign
happens at even permutation i.e. at intervals. For example,
ijk ikj
Al =− Al
The given tensor is anti-symmetric with respect to j and k.
This property is independent of coordinate system.
ALGEBRAIC PROPERTIES-
Addition and subtraction of tensors is defined for tensors of same rank and of
same covariant or contravariant indices.
For Example:
ij ij ij
A k + Bk =C k
ij ij ij
A k −Bk ¿ D k
The transformation laws are similarly applicable to sum and difference as to the
individual tensors.
