Four velocity with the Schwarzchild metric

In summary, the conversation discusses the problem of calculating the components of the four-velocity for a massive particle moving in the radial direction above the Earth using the normalization condition for Uu. The metric being used is also mentioned, and the issue of not being able to solve for U1 is addressed. It is ultimately determined that the equation used requires a summation over all possible values for the indexes, resolving the issue.
  • #1
Pogags
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I am trying to solve the following problem but have gotten stuck.
Consider a massive particle moving in the radial direction above the Earth, not necessarily on a geodesic, with instantaneous velocity
v = dr/dt
Both θ and φ can be taken as constant. Calculate the components of the four-velocity Uu in terms of v using the normalization condition for Uu. Do not make any approximations yet.

We are using the metric:

ds2=-(1+2Φ)dt2+(1+2Φ)-1dr2+r22

I have determined that U0 is going to be (1+2Φ)(-1/2) by using the equation

guvUuUv=-1

However when I try to solve for U1 I get

g11*(U1)2=-1

Which is clearly not correct as this would yield

U1=(-(1+2Φ))(-1/2).

What am I doing wrong?

Apologies for formatting.
 
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  • #2
Pogags said:
I have determined that U0 is going to be (1+2Φ)(-1/2) by using the equation

guvUuUv=-1

Do you realize that this equation contains both ##U^0## and ##U^1##? You can't get an equation for just ##U^0## from it. The notation ##g_{uv} U^u U^v## means you have to sum over all possible values for the indexes ##u## and ##v##.
 
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Likes vanhees71 and Pogags
  • #3
This clears up the problem thank you. That slipped my mind
 

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