Exploring Rank 3 Tensors: A Guide for Beginners

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In summary, a rank-3 tensor is a set of three vectors that are each moved around in a different coordinate system. It can be thought of as a visual representation of a linear transformation.
  • #1
plxmny
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Hello Gals,

I know what a scalar is.
I know what a vector is.
I know what a linear transformation is.

But what in the name of sweet aunt petunia is a rank 3 tensor?

Love,
Plx Mny
 
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  • #2
I believe that it is misleading to try to visualize higher-rank tensors. Think of vector as collections of 3 or 4 numbers, not as arrows. Then the algebraic generalization to matrices, rank-3 tensors, etc, is trivial.
 
  • #3
plxmny said:
Hello Gals,

I know what a scalar is.
I know what a vector is.
I know what a linear transformation is.

But what in the name of sweet aunt petunia is a rank 3 tensor?

Love,
Plx Mny
It is often recommended that you don't try to visualize a 3rd rank tensor, or any tensor for that matter, but to think of it merely as a multi-linear function which maps vectors and 1-forms to to the set of real numbers. The higher the rank the tougher the visualization becomes. In fact I never try to visualize a tensor myself.

Pete
 
  • #4
pmb_phy said:
In fact I never try to visualize a tensor myself.
Pete

Hmm. I take it you've never read David Hume.

Anyways, I thought a little about this on my lunch break. I came up with "a
linear combination of linear combinations". Doesn't seem like a concept worth worrying about.
 
  • #5
plxmny said:
Hmm. I take it you've never read David Hume.
There are always people who anyone never read. So what does David Hume have to do with this and why didn't you explain it when you posted his name? That's an irritating habit for you to fall into. :yuck:

Pete
 
  • #6
plxmny said:
Hello Gals,

I know what a scalar is.
I know what a vector is.
I know what a linear transformation is.

But what in the name of sweet aunt petunia is a rank 3 tensor?

Love,
Plx Mny

A rank 3 tensor inputs three generalized vectors (i.e. either a vector or their dual vector), and spits out a scalar.

One can also think of it as inputting 2 generalized vectors (or a rank 2 tensor), and outputting a vector, or inputting 1 generalized vector, and outputing 2 vectors (or a rank 2 tensor).
 
  • #7
I was wondering this same thing. I can't even visualize linear transformations. I keep wondering: does not being able to visualize it make it impossible to do things like GR if you're a "geometric thinker" like me as opposed to a "formula thinker" like... pretty much everyone else?

I'm really bad. My eyes spin in circles whenever I see a sum in sigma notation, and I have to write it out with the ellipsis before I understand what it's saying!
 
  • #8
Xezlec said:
I was wondering this same thing. I can't even visualize linear transformations.

Well I am just learning this stuff and it's pretty clear that there is a lot of obfuscation going on. So I am taking very small bites.

I can definitely visualize a linear transformation. Maps a vector to another vector. Period.
 
  • #9
plxmny said:
I can definitely visualize a linear transformation. Maps a vector to another vector. Period.
That holds true for any kind of transformation and not specifically to a linear one. A linear transformation is of the form

Y = aX + B

I.e. all linear transformations have this form.

Pete
 
  • #10
I know what a rank 10 tensor is
I know what a rank 11 tensor is...
 
  • #11
plxmny said:
I can definitely visualize a linear transformation. Maps a vector to another vector. Period.

As pmb_phy mentioned, that's just a "transformation". That I can visualize. It's the "linear" part that gets me.
 
  • #12
pmb_phy said:
That holds true for any kind of transformation and not specifically to a linear one. A linear transformation is of the form

Y = aX + B

I.e. all linear transformations have this form.

Pete

That's not right. A linear transformation is not allowed to offset the vector (your B), and it can do a lot more than just scale the vector by a scalar "a". It can skew it, rotate it, and other things.
 
  • #13
Many tensors can be visualized as ellipsoids.

e.g. the inertia tensor, or the polarizability tensor.
 
  • #14
Xezlec said:
That's not right. A linear transformation is not allowed to offset the vector (your B), and it can do a lot more than just scale the vector by a scalar "a". It can skew it, rotate it, and other things.
Thank you for that correction Xezlec. You're correct of course.

Pete
 
  • #15
christianjb said:
Many tensors can be visualized as ellipsoids.

e.g. the inertia tensor, or the polarizability tensor.

That's interesting. That got me thinking and exploring Wikipedia. I guess the best way to visualize a general linear transformation is to visualize the three basis vectors of a 3D coordinate system and think of just changing/moving any/all of them in any way, with their tails remaining stuck together at the origin. Then I can picture the effect on any object living in the space "attached" to those vectors.

Then, a rank-3 tensor is like picturing those three arbitrarily changed/moved vectors in a different coordinate system, and applying a different linear transformation to each one.
 
  • #16
plxmny said:
Hello Gals,
But what in the name of sweet aunt petunia is a rank 3 tensor?
Plx Mny
m=(((1,2),(2,4)),((2,3),(5,6))) is a rank 3 tensor with dimension 2, a vector of matrices.
A tensor is a nested list.

An example Eigenmath http://eigenmath.net/ script with a rank 3 tensor is:

--Maxwell equations in tensor form.
--See the book Gravitation p. 81.
--
-- F + F + F = 0
-- ab,c bc,a ca,b
--
-- ab a
-- F = 4 pi J
-- ,b
--
--For this demo, use circular polarized light.
--
EX = sin(t+z)
EY = cos(t+z)
EZ = 0
BX = cos(t+z)
BY = -sin(t+z)
BZ = 0
FDD = (( 0, -EX, -EY, -EZ),
( EX, 0, BZ, -BY),
( EY, -BZ, 0, BX),
( EZ, BY, -BX, 0)) --See p. 74. Here, DD means "down down" indices.
X = (t,x,y,z) --Coordinate system
FDDD = d(FDD,X) --Gradient of F
T1 = transpose(transpose(FDDD,2,3),1,2) --Transpose bca to abc
T2 = transpose(transpose(FDDD,1,2),2,3) --Transpose cab to abc
check(FDDD + T1 + T2 = 0)
guu = ((-1,0,0,0),(0,1,0,0),(0,0,1,0),(0,0,0,1))
FDDU = contract(outer(FDDD,guu),3,4) --Easier to make FDDU than FUUD.
check(contract(FDDU,2,3) = 0) --For light J is zero.
"OK"

The gradient of a rank 2 tensor (matrix) in a coordinate system (vector), is a rank 3 tensor. (GAMUDD) in example below.
Another example is the gradient of the metric in general relativity which is the connection.
An example of a 4th rank tensor is the Riemann curvature of spacetime. RUDDD in http://eigenmath.net/examples/bondi-metric.txt .
 
Last edited:
  • #17
Now some one try to visualize contravariant tensors! I tried to twenty years ago and then decided to do grad school in engineering. At least with fluids you don't get beyond three dimensions!
 

1. What are rank 3 tensors?

Rank 3 tensors are mathematical objects that have three indices and represent a multidimensional array of numbers. They are used in many fields of science, including physics, engineering, and computer science.

2. How do I explore rank 3 tensors?

To explore rank 3 tensors, you first need to have a basic understanding of tensor algebra and notation. Then, you can use various mathematical operations and techniques to manipulate and analyze rank 3 tensors, such as tensor contractions, index notation, and matrix representations.

3. What are some real-life applications of rank 3 tensors?

Rank 3 tensors have many practical applications, such as in image and signal processing, fluid dynamics, and quantum mechanics. They are also used in machine learning and artificial intelligence algorithms for tasks such as image recognition and natural language processing.

4. Are there any challenges in exploring rank 3 tensors?

Yes, exploring rank 3 tensors can be challenging because they involve complex mathematical concepts and notation. It can also be difficult to visualize and understand the higher-dimensional spaces that tensors represent. Additionally, manipulating and analyzing large rank 3 tensors can be computationally intensive.

5. What are some recommended resources for beginners learning about rank 3 tensors?

There are many resources available for beginners to learn about rank 3 tensors, including textbooks, online courses, and video tutorials. Some recommended resources include "Tensor Calculus for Physics" by Dwight E. Neuenschwander, "Introduction to Tensor Calculus and Continuum Mechanics" by J. H. Heinbockel, and "The Beginner's Guide to Tensor Calculus" by David C. Kay.

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