1st Set of Examples 1

1. If F is antisymmetric on its two indices. Show that

F , F = F, F

SOLUTION

We have to use the metric tensor in order to lower the indices. So we get:

F , F = (F ), (F ) = (F ), F ( ) + F
, (F

) (1)

Since is constant, , = 0 and we get:

F, F ( ) = F, F = F, F = F, F (2)

where in the last passage we have used the antisymmetry of the tensor F . Considering
that is a dummy index, we can relabel it so that:

F, F = F, F (3)

1
The problems have been chosen by the Problem Book in Relativity and Gravitation By Alan P. Lightman,
Richard H. Price, William H. Press, Saul A. Teukolsky, Published by Princeton University Press, 1975

1
2. In a coordinate system with coordinates x , the invariant line element is ds2 =
dx dx . If the coordinates are transformed x x , show that the line
element is ds2 = g dx dx , and express g in terms of the partial derivatives
x / x . For two arbitrary vectors U and V, show that

U V = U V = U V g

SOLUTION

We start by writing the differentials in terms of the new coordinate:

ds2 = dx dx
x x
= dx dx (4)
x x
x x

= dx dx
x x

If we write the line element as ds2 = g dx dx and compare this expression with the
last passage of the equation above, we can identify:

x x

g = (5)
x x
Now consider a vector U . The transformation of coordinate x x for U is:
x
U = U (6)
x
So for the scalar product U V we get:

U V = U V
x
x

= U V
x x 
(7)
x x
= U V
x x
= U V g

2
3. If and are two matrices which transform the components of at ensor
from one coordinate basis to another, show that the matrix is also a
coordinate transformation.

SOLUTION

Take two coordinate transformations as:

x
x = x (x ) = (8)
x
and
x
x = x (x ) = (9)
x
The product matrix is given by:
x x
= (10)
x x
The expression above can seem to differ from a usual coordinate transformation.We will
show that this is not the case. Take another transformation of coordinate such as:

x = x (x ) = x [x (x )] (11)

then
x x x
= = (12)
x x x
This is the same expression of (10) also if it differs for the x in the denominator: the
partial derivative are always taken respect on the argument variable, and it is possible
to call these variables with different names without that the meaning of the operation
changes. So the expression (12) is a transformation of coordinate as well as (10).

3
4. Show that the second rank tensor F which is antisymmetric in one coordinate
frame (F = F ) is antisymmetric in all frames. Show that the contravariant
components are also antisymmetric (F = F ). Show that symmetry is also
coordinate invariant.

SOLUTION

We start by trasforming the tensor F :

F = F = F . (13)

where in the last passage we have use the antisymmetry propriety of F . Now if we
consider that and are two dummy indices, we can relabel them, for example naming
and so that:

F = F = F = F (14)

So if a tensor is antisymmetric in one coordinate frame, it is antisymmetric in all the

coordinate frame. The same applied to an antisymmetric contravariant tensor:

F = g g F = g g F = g g F = F (15)

where we have used the antisymmetry propriety of F and the fact that and are
dummy indices and, consequently, we can relabel it.

4
5. Let A be an antisymmetric tensor so that A = A and let S be a
symmetric tensor so that S = S . Show that

A S = 0 .

For any arbitrary tensor V establish the following two identities:

1 1
V A = V V A V S = V + V S



2 2
If A is antisymmetric, then A S = A S = A S . Because and
are dummy indices, we can relabel it and obtain:

A S = A S = A S

so that A S = 0, i.e. the product of a symmetric tensor times an antisym-

metric one is equal to zero.

SOLUTION
Since the and are dummy indexes can be interchanged, so that

A S = A S = A S = A S 0 .

Each tensor can be written like the sum of a symmetric part V = 12 V + V and an

part V = 12 V V so that a V = V + V = 12 V + V + V


antisymmetric


V = V . So we have:

1 1 1
V A =



V A + V A == V A = V V A (16)
2 2 2
since we have already show that the scalar product of a symmetric tensor with an anti-
symmetric one is equal to zero. In the same way we can show that:
1 1 1
V S =



V S + V S == V S = V + V S (17)
2 2 2

5
6. (a) In a n-dimensional metric space, how many independent components are
there for an r-rank tensor T ... with no symmetries?
(b) How many independents component are there if the tensor is symmetric
on s of its indices?
(c) How many independents component are there if the tensor is antisymmet-
ric on a of its indices?
SOLUTION
(a) In the case of no symmetries the number of independent components is nr (where r
is the rank of the tensor).
(b) If we have s symmetric indices, then we have to calculate how many inequivalent way
we have to choose them (including the repetitions) in a set n. The number is given by:

(n + s 1)!
(n 1)!s!

while the remaining r s indices can be chosen in nrs ways so that the number of
independent component is:
(n + s 1)!
nrs
(n 1)!s!

(c) If we have a antisymmetric indices, then we have to calculate how many inequivalent
way we have to choose them (including the repetitions) in a set n. The number is given
by:
n!
(n a)!a!
while the remaining r a indices can be chosen in nra ways so that the number of
independent component is:
n!
nra
(n a)!a!
Note that for a = n we have just a possibility to choose the a indices, while for a > n
there is no possibility: this means that all the components must be zero.

6
7. If F is antisymmetric, T is symmetric and V is an arbitrary tensor, give
explicit formulation for the following :
(a) V[] , F[] , F(mu) , T[] , T() , V[] , T(,) , F[,] .
(b) Show that F = A[,] A[,] implies

F, + F, + F, = 0

SOLUTION

(a)
1

V[] = V V
2
F[] = F
F() = 0
(F is antisymmetric)
T() = T
T[] = 0
(T is symmetric)
1

V[] = V V + V V + V V
6
1

F[,] = F, + F, + F,
3
1

T[,] = T, + T, + T,
3
(b) F is an antisymmetric tensor so:

F, + F, + F, = 3F[,]

but F = A[,] and consequently F[,] = A[[,],]

But we have:

1 1 1
A[[,],] = (A[,,] A[,,] ) = (A,, A,, + A,, A,, + A,, A,, )
2 2 6

1
(A,, A,, + A,, A,, + A,, A,, )
6
 
1 2
= (A,, A,, + A,, A,, + A,, A,, )
2 6
= A[,,] (18)

7
and since A,, = A,, , it follows

F[,] = A[[,],] = A[,,] = 0

and so:

F, + F, + F, = 3F[,] = 0

8
8. Show that the Kronecker delta is a tensor.
SOLUTION

We have just to show that transform like a tensor. We have for a transformation of
coordinate x x (x ):

x x x x
= = = (19)
x x x x
x x
where the last equality follows from the fact that x
and x
are the matrix inverse of
each other. So transforms like a tensor.

9
9. Prove that, except for scaling by a constant, there is an unique tensor 
which is totally antisymmetric on all its 4 indices. The usual choice is to take
0123 = 1 in Minkowsky coordinates. What are the components of  in a generic
coordinate system, with metric g ?
SOLUTION

For a totally antisymmetric vector with rank r and a antisymmetric components in a

n-folds, we have already shown that the number of independent components is given by:
n!
nra
(n a)!a!

For  we have n = a = 4 so that there is just one possibility to choose the component,
i.e. once time that 0123 is given, the tensor is fixed in an unique way. In Minkowski
coordinates, we have:
0123 = 1023 = 1032 = ... = 1
In a generic frame:

x x x x  xa 
 =  = det  (20)
x x x x xa
Now we have to find the relation between the expression above and the metric tensor g .
We have already shown that:
x x
g = (21)
x x
and so:
 xa  2  xa  2
det[g ] = |det | det[ ] = |det | (22)
xa xa
It folllows from the expression above that:
 xa 
det = [det(g )]1/2 (23)
xa
Substituting this last expression in (20) we get:

 = [det(g )]1/2  (24)

10
10. In an orthonormal frame, show that

 = 

What is the analogous relation in a general frame, with metric tensor g ?

SOLUTION

In an orthonormal frame we get:

 =  (25)

Since that in this frame only the elements on the diagonal are different from zero we get:

0123 = 00 11 22 33 0123 = 0123 (26)

because 00 = 1 and ii = 1. So in this frame:

 =  (27)

In order to find the expression in a generic frame, we use the equation (24) and so we get:

 = [ det(g )]1/2  = [ det(g )]1/2  (28)

11
11. Prove that:
a)  
1
g R g R = g S = 0
4

b)
g C = 0

SOLUTION

a) Proof that S is traceless

 
1 1 1
S = g S = g R g R = g T g g R = R 4 R = 0
4 4 4

b)

g C = g R
1
g (g S + g S g S g S )
2
1
R g g g g g g



12
1 1
= R (4S + 0 S S ) R (4g g )
2 12
1
= R S Rg
4
= 0 (29)

12
12. Prove that:
a)
g g , = g g,
b)
g, = gg g , = gg g,
c) In a coordinate frame
= log |g|1/2


,

d) In a coordinate frame
1
g = g |g|1/2 ,


|g|1/2

e) In a coordinate frame
1
A ; = |g|1/2 A ,


|g|1/2

f) In a coordinate frame
1
A; = 1/2
A


1/2
|g| A ,
|g|

g) In a coordinate frame if A is antisymmetric

1
A ; = 1/2


|g| A ,
|g|1/2

h) In a coordinate frame
1
S = S; ; = |g|1/2 g S, ,


|g|1/2

SOLUTION

a) Since g g = we get g, g + g g , = 0

b) g = g 1 G g , = g 2 g, G = g 2 g, g g and thus

g, = g g , g

c) In a coordinate frame = 21 g (g, + g, g, ) thus = 12 g g, and

thus by b)
1 1
= g, = (log |g|), = log |g|1/2 ,


2g 2

13
d)

g = g , g = g , log |g|1/2 g = g , log |g|1/2 g

, ,
1/2
= g , |g|1/2
, g |g| (30)

e)
1 1
A ; = A , + A = A , + |g|1/2 , A = 1/2 |g|1/2 A ,



|g|1/2 |g|

f)
1
A; = A, + A A = A, + 1/2
A A


1/2
|g| ,
|g|
1 1/2
A


= 1/2
|g| A ,
|g|

g)

1
A ; = A , + A + A = A , + A + 1/2
A


|g| ,
|g|1/2
1 1/2
+ A


= 1/2
|g| A ,
(31)
|g|

But = () , so if A = A[] , then the last term vanishes

h)
1
S = S, g ; = 1/2 |g|1/2 S, g ,



|g|

14