Scribd
Upload
2 views6 pages

Tensor Report

Tensors are mathematical objects that transform according to specific rules under coordinate changes, with different ranks representing scalars, vectors, and higher-dimensional entities. The document explains concepts such as indices, the Einstein summation convention, and various types of tensors including contravariant, covariant, and mixed tensors, along with their transformation properties. It also covers symmetric and skew-symmetric tensors, as well as the algebraic properties of tensor addition and subtraction.

Uploaded by

mamaisingha
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
2 views6 pages

Tensor Report

Tensors are mathematical objects that transform according to specific rules under coordinate changes, with different ranks representing scalars, vectors, and higher-dimensional entities. The document explains concepts such as indices, the Einstein summation convention, and various types of tensors including contravariant, covariant, and mixed tensors, along with their transformation properties. It also covers symmetric and skew-symmetric tensors, as well as the algebraic properties of tensor addition and subtraction.

Uploaded by

mamaisingha
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 6

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.

You might also like