Questions tagged [differentiation]
Differentiation is the set of techniques and results from Differential Calculus, concerning the calculation of derivatives of functions or distributions.
174
questions
-1
votes
1
answer
55
views
What happens if we differentiate spacetime with respect to time? [closed]
Essentially, what would differentiating space-time with respect to time provide us with? What are the constraints associated with such operations? Is it possible to obtain a useful physical quantity ...
0
votes
0
answers
35
views
Changing coordinate system [migrated]
Someone please explain how did we get second term in equation 2.15.
0
votes
0
answers
41
views
What are the operators here and how are these formulas derived? [closed]
In (23), are grad and div some kind of scalar operators comparing to $\nabla$ and $\nabla\times$? because tbh I dont know how $\text{curl}(\mu^{-1}\text{curl}\textbf{A})$ turns into $\text{div}\mu^{-1}...
0
votes
1
answer
140
views
What's the difference? $\nabla_\mu e_\nu=\Gamma_{\mu \nu}^\rho e_\rho~\text{ and }~\partial_\mu e_\nu=\Gamma_{\mu \nu}^\rho e_\rho~?$
What's the difference? $$\nabla_\mu e_\nu=\Gamma_{\mu \nu}^\rho e_\rho~\text{ and }~\partial_\mu e_\nu=\Gamma_{\mu \nu}^\rho e_\rho~?$$
In John Dirk Walecka's book 'Introduction to General Relativity',...
6
votes
3
answers
1k
views
In equation (3) from lecture 7 in Leonard Susskind’s ‘Classical Mechanics’, should the derivatives be partial?
Here are the equations. ($V$ represents a potential function and $p$ represents momentum.)
$$V(q_1,q_2) = V(aq_1 - bq_2)$$
$$\dot{p}_1 = -aV'(aq_1 - bq_2)$$
$$\dot{p}_2 = +bV'(aq_1 - bq_2)$$
Should ...
0
votes
1
answer
75
views
Confusion about contraction and covariant derivatives [closed]
Understanding Contraction and Second Covariant Derivatives in Tensors
I am confused about contraction in tensors and the second covariant derivative in tensors. Consider a tensor $T_{\mu\nu}$ and the ...
1
vote
3
answers
85
views
Does (covariant) divergence-freeness of the stress-energy tensor ${T^{\mu\nu}}_{;\nu}=0$ follow from the Bianchi identity?
I'm working through Chap. $30$ of Dirac's "GTR" where he develops the "comprehensive action principle". He makes a very slick and mathematically elegant argument to show that the ...
2
votes
1
answer
59
views
Total differential of internal energy $U$ in terms of $p$ and $T$ using first law of thermodynamics in Fermi's Thermodynamics
While reading pages 19-20 of Enrico Fermi's classic introductory text on Thermodynamics, I ran into two sources of confusion with his application of the First Law. Fermi introduces a peculiar notation ...
1
vote
1
answer
61
views
How do you differentiate $F^{αβ}$ with respect to $g_{μν}$?
I want to experiment with this relation (from Dirac's "General Theory of Relativity"):
$$T^{μν} = -\left(2 \frac{∂L}{∂g_{μν}} + g^{μν} L \right)$$
using the electromagnetic Lagrangian $L = -(...
0
votes
1
answer
46
views
Transformation to replace a Material derivative with a spatial derivative
In the technical paper referenced below, Gringarten et al. claim that the transient energy transport equation in a planar conduit (Eq. 1 in their paper)
$$
\rho c \Bigg[ \frac{\partial T(z,t)}{\...
1
vote
3
answers
102
views
The conservative force [closed]
I read about the definition of the curl.
It's the measure of the rotation of the vector field around a specific point
I understand this, but I would like to know what does the "curl of the ...
2
votes
0
answers
45
views
Covariant (absolute) derivative of a vector along a curve -- compare cartesian vs. polar coordinates [migrated]
BACKGROUND: Suppose $A^μ$ is a vector field and $x^μ(λ)$ is a curve in spacetime. A first guess at measuring the change in $A^μ$ along the curve might be
$$\frac{dA^μ(x(λ))}{dλ} = \frac{∂A^μ}{∂x^ν} \...
0
votes
1
answer
85
views
Differential form of Lorentz equations
A Lorentz transformation for a boost in the $x$ direction ($S'$ moves in $+x$, $v>0$) is given by:
$$ t'=\gamma\left(t-v\frac{x}{c^2}\right),~x'=\gamma(x-vt)$$
In the derivation of the addition of ...
0
votes
1
answer
43
views
Commutation in the Local Gauge Transformations
Let's say that I have a Unitary Local Gauge Transformation $U$, in which the Lie Generators are $T$:
$$ \partial_{\mu} U = \partial_{\mu} e^{-i T^{a} \alpha_{a}(x)} = U \partial_{\mu} \left( -i T^{a} \...
1
vote
2
answers
99
views
Why must a constraint force be normal?
If we impose that a particle follows a holonomic constraint, so that it always remains on a surface defined by some function $f(x_1,x_2,x_3)=0$ with $f:\mathbb{R^3}\rightarrow\mathbb{R}$, we get a ...