Geodesic equation Definition and 68 Threads

The notion of spacetime curvature is just the same as geodesic deviation. Therefore take for instance two bodies at different altitudes from Earth surface. In order to evaluate their geodesic deviation the two worldlines must start parallel in spacetime (actually in tangent spaces at both...

The subject of this thread is about the existence of Closed Timelike Curves (CTC) in FLRW models. FLRW models have topology ##\mathbb R^4## or ##\mathbb S^3 \times \mathbb R##. What about their metric? Do they have any CTC ?

In Dirac's "General Theory of Relativity", p. 53, eq. (27.11), Dirac is deriving Einstein's field equations and the geodesic equation from the variation ##\delta(I_g+I_m)=0## of the actions for gravity and matter. Here ##p^\mu=\rho v^\mu \sqrt{-g}## is the momentum of an element of matter. He...

We had a thread long time ago concerning the Lie dragging of a vector field ##X## along a given vector field ##V## compared to the Fermi-Walker transport of ##X## along a curve ##C## through a point ##P## that is the integral curve of the vector field ##V## passing through that point. We said...

Hi, on Wald's book on GR there is a claim at pag. 43 about the construction of synchronous reference frame (i.e. Gaussian coordinate chart) in a finite region of any spacetime. In particular he says: $$n^b\nabla_b (n_aX^a)=n_aX^b\nabla_b \, n^a$$Then he claims from Leibnitz rule the above equals...

I have the following question to solve:Use the metric:$$ds^2 = -dt^2 +dx^2 +2a^2(t)dxdy + dy^2 +dz^2$$ Test bodies are arranged in a circle on the metric at rest at ##t=0##. The circle define as $$x^2 +y^2 \leq R^2$$ The bodies start to move on geodesic when we have $$a(0)=0$$ a. we have to...

I have the following question to solve:Use the metric: $$ds^2 = -dt^2 +dx^2 +2a^2(t)dxdy + dy^2 +dz^2$$ Test bodies are arranged in a circle on the metric at rest at $$t=0$$. The circle define as $$x^2 +y^2 \leq R^2$$ The bodies start to move on geodesic when we have $$a(0)=0$$ a. we have to...

On pages 106-107 of Spacetime & Geometry, Carroll derives the geodesic equation by extremizing the proper time functional. He writes: What I am unclear on is the step in 3.47. I understand that the four velocity is normalized to -1 for timelike paths, but if the value of f is fixed, how can we...

I was following David tongs notes on GR, right after deriving the Euler Lagrange equation, he jumps into writing the Lagrangian of a free particle and then applying the EL equation to it, he mentions curved spaces by specifying the infinitesimal distance between any two points, ##x^i##and ##x^i...

Since the EFE describes the shape of spacetime, it describes the way black holes, for example, evolve. Can one derive the geodesic equation from it in some limit ?

Does there exist a form of the geodesic equation which is invariant under coordinates change ?

In the formula : ##\frac{d^2 x^\mu}{d\tau^2}=-\Gamma^\mu_{\alpha\beta}\frac{dx^\alpha}{d\tau}\frac{dx^\beta}{d\tau}## How is the ##x^\mu## understood : a 4-vector or the ##\mu##-st component simply ? If it is a vector, how to write it in spherical coordinate with extra time dimension ? Btw...

I'm still on section 5.4 of Carroll's book on Schwarzschild geodesics Carroll says "In addition, we always have another constant of the motion for geodesics: the geodesic equation (together with metric compatibility) implies that the quantity $$...

I am working from Sean Carroll's Spacetime and Geometry : An Introduction to General Relativity and have got to the geodesic equation. I wanted to test it on the surface of a sphere where I know that great circles are geodesics and is about the simplest non-trivial case I can think of. Carroll...

From Thomas Moore A General Relativity Workbook I have the geodesic equation as, $$ 0=\frac{d}{d \tau} (g_{\alpha \beta} \frac{dx^\beta}{d \tau}) - \frac{1}{2} \partial_\alpha g_{\mu\nu} \frac{dx^\mu}{d \tau} \frac{dx^\nu}{d \tau} $$ as well as $$ 0= \frac{d^2x^\gamma}{d \tau^2} +...

The energy-momentum tensor of a free particle with mass ##m## moving along its worldline ##x^\mu (\tau )## is \begin{equation} T^{\mu\nu}(y^\sigma)=m\int d \tau \frac{\delta^{(4) }(y^\sigma-x^\sigma(\tau ))}{\sqrt{-g}}\frac{dx^\mu}{d\tau}\frac{dx^\nu}{d\tau}.\tag{2} \end{equation} The covariant...

Homework Statement We are asked to show that: ## \frac{d^2x_\mu}{d\tau^2}= \frac{1}{2} \frac{dx^\nu}{d\tau} \frac{dx^{\rho}}{d\tau} \frac{\partial g_{\rho \nu}}{\partial x^{\mu}} ## ( please ignore the image in this section i cannot remove it for some reason ) Homework Equations The...

From the invariance of space time interval the metric dΓ2=dt2-dx2-dy2-dz2 dΓ2=gμνdxμdxν dΓ=√(gμνvμvμ)dt dΓ=proper time. Can someone please help me in sort out why the term √(gμνdxμdxν) is taken as the Lagrangian,as geodesic equation is solved by taking this to be the Lagrangian.

Hi, If I have a massive particle constrained to the surface of a Riemannian manifold (the metric tensor is positive definite) with kinetic energy $$T=\dfrac 12mg_{\mu\nu} \dfrac{\text dx^{\mu}}{\text dt} \dfrac{\text dx^{\nu}}{\text dt}$$ then I believe I should be able to derive the geodesic...

I was wondering where does the 1/2 factor come from in the Euler-Lagrange equation, that is: L = \sqrt{g_{\mu \nu} \dot{x}^\mu \dot{x}^\nu} implies that \partial_\mu L = \pm \frac{1}{2} (\partial_\mu g_{\mu \nu} \dot{x}^\mu \dot{x}^\nu ) I'm not sure I entirely understand where it comes...

Let us assume a "toy-metric" of the form $$ g=-c^2 \mathrm{d}t^2+\mathrm{d}x^2+\mathrm{d}y^2+\mathrm{d}z^2-\frac{4GJ}{c^3 r^3} (c \mathrm{d}t) \left( \frac{x\mathrm{d}y-y\mathrm{d}x}{r} \right)$$ where ##J## is the angular-momentum vector of the source. Consider the curve $$ \gamma(\tau)=(x^\mu...

Hi, So the geodesic equation is saying in my frame of reference I may see acceleration and then in your frame of reference you may see gravity? So by just changing coordinates you can create a "force" ? And also is this relevant to the Minkowski space or do I need to be in GR to be able to get...

I am using from the following Euler equations : $$\dfrac{\partial f}{\partial u^{i}}-\dfrac{\text{d}}{\text{d}s}\bigg(\dfrac{\partial f}{\partial u'^{i}}\bigg) =0$$ with function ##f## is equal to : $$f=g_{ij}\dfrac{\text{d}u^{i}}{\text{d}s}\dfrac{\text{d}u^{j}}{\text{d}s}$$ and we have...

Hello! I am a bit confused about the geodesic equation. So for a massive particle it is given by: ##\frac{d}{d\tau}\frac{dx^\alpha}{d\tau}+\Gamma^\alpha_{\mu\beta}\frac{dx^\mu}{d\tau}\frac{dx^\beta}{d\tau}=0##, where ##\tau## is the proper time, but in general can be any affine parameter. I am...

Homework Statement Given that ##ds^2 = r^2 d\theta ^2 + dr^2## find the geodesic equations. Homework Equations The Attempt at a Solution I think the ##g_{\mu\nu} = \left( \begin{array}{ccc} 1& 0 \\ 0 & r^2 \end{array} \right)## Then I tried to use the equation ##\tau = \int_{t_1}^{t_2}...

Hi, I am following this : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geodesics_in_general_relativity and all is good except how do we get ## \delta g_{uv}=\partial_{\alpha}g_{uv}\delta x^{\alpha}## Many thanks

In the geodesic equation why is dt/du=λ(u)t ,where t is the tangent vector along the curve and why Dt[a]/Du=λ(u)dx[a]/du equated same,as given in hobson

I've recently read in a textbook that a geodesic can be defined as the stationary point of the action \begin{align} I(\gamma)=\frac{1}{2}\int_a^b \underbrace{g(\dot{\gamma},\dot{\gamma})(s)}_{=:\mathcal{L}(\gamma,\dot{\gamma})} \mathrm{d}s \text{,} \end{align} where ##\gamma:[a,b]\rightarrow...

Question Background: I'm considering the Eddington-Robertson-Schiff line element which is given by (ds)^2 = \left( 1 - 2 \left(\frac{\mu}{r}\right) + 2 \left(\frac{\mu^2}{r^2}\right) \right) dt^2 - \left( 1 + 2 \left( \frac{\mu}{r} \right) \right) (dr^2 + r^2 d\theta^2 + r^2 \sin^2{\theta}...

Hello so if we have geodesic equation lagrange approximation solution: d/ds(mgμνdxν/ds)=m∂gμν∂xλdxμ/ds dxν/ds. So if we have schwarzschild metric (wich could be used to describe example sun) which is:ds2=(1-rs/r)dt2-(1-rs/r)-1dr2-r2[/SUP]-sin22. But that means that ∂gμν/∂xλ=0. So that means that...

Hello I am little bit confused about lagrange approximation to geodesic equation: So we have lagrange equal to L=gμνd/dxμd/dxν And we have Euler-Lagrange equation:∂L/∂xμ-d/dt ∂/∂x(dot)μ=0 And x(dot)μ=dxμ/dτ. How do I find the value of x(dot)μ?

Hello I am concered about way of solving geodesic equation. Is there a general solution to geodesic equation? How to calculate the Cristoffel symbol at the right side of the equation? Thanks for helping me out!

I am trying to find and solve the geodesics equation for polar coordinates. If I start by the definition of Christoffel symbols with the following expressions : $$de_{i}=w_{i}^{j}\,de_{j}=\Gamma_{ik}^{j}du^{k}\,de_{j}$$ with $$u^{k}$$ is the k-th component of polar coordinates ($$1$$ is for...

Homework Statement We've got a line element ds^2 = f(x) du^2 + dx^2 From that we should find the geodesic equation Homework Equations Line Element: ds^2 = dq^j g_{jk} dq^k Geodesic Equation: \ddot{q}^j = -\Gamma_{km}^j \dot{q}^k \dot{q}^m Christoffel Symbol: \Gamma_{km}^j = \frac{g^{jl}}{2}...

I am trying to derive the geodesic equation using variational principle. My Lagrangian is $$ L = \sqrt{g_{jk}(x(t)) \frac{dx^j}{dt} \frac{dx^k}{dt}}$$ Using the Euler-Lagrange equation, I have got this. $$ \frac{d^2 x^u}{dt^2} + \Gamma^u_{mk} \frac{dx^m}{dt} \frac{dx^k}{dt} =...

So I've gone through the process of deriving the geodesic equation, I thought I understood it. I hoped that once the equation was obtained I'd be able to do simple replacements and find the shortest path between two locations on earth. I'm really stuck right now though so does anyone know how...

As the geodesic equation in a form of is quite familiar for me. But I still cannot derive it in terms of time coordinate parameter; I can't get the second term on the right hand side what I can get is ½{d[lngαβ(dxα/dt)(dxβ/dt)]/dt}dxμ/dt How can I obtain that term?

I started studying the geodesic equation: ∂2xμ/∂s2 = - Γμab(∂xa/∂s)(∂xb/∂s) where the term s is proper time according to the wiki(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geodesics_in_general_relativity). The 2nd derivative on the left side of the equation is the acceleration in the xμ direction. Now my...

Hi all, I am trying to follow the calculation by samalkhaiat in this thread: https://www.physicsforums.com/threads/finding-equations-of-motion-from-the-stress-energy-tensor.547502/page-2 (post number 36). I am having some difficulty getting the equation above equation (11) (it was an unnumbered...

Hi, Einstein once showed that if we assume elementary particles to be singularities in spacetime (e.g. black hole electrons), then it is unnecessary to postulate geodesic motion, which in standard GR has to be introduced somewhat inelegantly by the geodesic equation. I don't have access to...

Homework Statement (a) Find ##\dot \phi##. (b) Find the geodesic equation in ##r##. (c) Find functions g,f,h. (d) Comment on the significance of the results. Homework Equations The metric components are: ##g_{00} = -c^2## ##g_{11} = \frac{r^2 + \alpha^2 cos^2 \theta}{r^2 +\alpha^2}##...

Taken from Hobson's book: How did they get this form? \dot u^{\mu} = - \Gamma_{v\sigma}^\mu u^v u^\sigma \dot u^{\mu} g_{\mu \beta} \delta_\mu ^\beta = - g_{\mu \beta} \delta_\mu ^\beta \Gamma_{v\sigma}^\mu u^v u^\sigma \dot u_{\mu} = - \frac{1}{2} g_{\mu \beta} \delta_\mu ^\beta...

My book says in the slow motion approx, so ## v << c ##, ##v=\frac{dx^{i}}{dt}=O(\epsilon) ## It then states: i) ##\frac{dx^{i}}{ds}=\frac{dt}{ds}\frac{dx^{i}}{dt}=O(\epsilon) ## ii) ## \frac{dx^{0}}{ds}=\frac{dt}{ds}=1+O(\epsilon) ## The geodesic equation reduces from...

Homework Statement (a) Show acceleration is perpendicular to velocity (b)Show the following relations (c) Show the continuity equation (d) Show if P = 0 geodesics obey: Homework EquationsThe Attempt at a SolutionPart (a) U_{\mu}A^{\mu} = U_{\mu}U^v \left[ \partial_v U^{\mu} +...

Starting with the geodesic equation with non-relativistic approximation: \frac{d^2 x^{\mu}}{d \tau^2} + \Gamma_{00}^{\mu} \left( \frac{dx^0}{d\tau} \right)^2 = 0 I know that ## \Gamma_{\alpha \beta}^{\mu} = \frac{\partial x^{\mu}}{\partial y^{\lambda}} \frac{\partial^2 y^{\lambda}}{\partial...

I was reading my lecturer's notes on GR where I came across the geodesic equation for four-velocity. There is a line which read: Summing them up, \partial_i g_{aj} u^i u^j - \frac{1}{2} \partial_a g_{ij} u^i u^j = \frac{1}{2} u^i u^j \partial_a g_{ij} I'm trying to understand how LHS = RHS...

Hi all, I was looking through this proof and have no idea where the "u" comes from., any help apreciated. http://s0.wp.com/latex.php?latex=%5Cdisplaystyle++&bg=eedbbd&fg=000000&s=0 http://s0.wp.com/latex.php?latex=%5Cdisplaystyle++&bg=eedbbd&fg=000000&s=0...

Homework Statement (This is self-study.) In the equation just above 10.27 on page 263 of "Gravitation" by Misner, Thorne, and Wheeler, the first term is: \frac{\partial}{\partial x^{\beta}} (\frac{dx^{\alpha}}{d\lambda}) \frac{dx^{\beta}}{d\lambda} which becomes the first term in (10.27)...

Hello all, In Carroll's on page 109 it is pointed out that for derivation of the geodesic equation, 3.44, a "hidden" assumption is that we have used an affine parameter. Some few lines below we see that "any other parametrization" could be used, called alpha, but in that case the general...

I am trying to derive the geodesic equation by extremising the integral $$ \ell = \int d\tau $$ Now after applying Euler-Lagrange equation, I finally get the following: $$ \ddot{x}^\tau + \Gamma^\tau_{\mu \nu} \dot{x}^\mu \dot{x}^\nu = \frac{1}{2} \dot{x}^\tau \frac{d}{ds} \ln \left|...