General Expression for Round Metric on an N-sphere

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SUMMARY

The round metric for an n-sphere of radius r is expressed as dS² = r²(dθ₁² + sin²θ₁ dθ₂² + sin²θ₁ sin²θ₂ dθ₃² + ... + sin²θ₁ sin²θ₂ ... sin²θₙ₋₂ dθₙ₋₁²). This formula generalizes the metric for a 3-sphere, which is dS² = dr² + r²(dθ₁² + sin²θ₁ dθ₂² + sin²θ₁ sin²θ₂ dθ₃²). The radial component dr² is not included in the n-sphere metric since it does not represent a direction on the n-sphere. Analyzing the metrics for n=1, 2, and 3 reveals a consistent pattern for higher dimensions.

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m1rohit
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Homework Statement


I want to know the expression for the round metric of an n-sphere of radius r


Homework Equations



I have obtained this for a 3-sphere
dS^{2}=dr^{2}+r^{2}(d\theta_{1}^{2}+sin^{2}\theta_{1}d\theta_{2}^{2}
+sin^{2}\theta_{1}sin^{2}\theta_{2}d\theta_{3}^{2})


The Attempt at a Solution


what will be the general expression for an n -sphere
 
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m1rohit said:
I have obtained this for a 3-sphere
dS^{2}=dr^{2}+r^{2}(d\theta_{1}^{2}+sin^{2}\theta_{1}d\theta_{2}^{2}<br /> +sin^{2}\theta_{1}sin^{2}\theta_{2}d\theta_{3}^{2})

Looks good to me except that dr^2 shouldn't be part of it since the radial direction is not a direction on the n-sphere :smile:

Examining the results for n=1, 2 and 3 should reveal the pattern for general n...
 
What is a round metric(in words)? And an induced metric(in words)?
(I don't know the tag for hyperlinks)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metric_tensor#The_round_metric_on_a_sphere

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Induced_metric

The benefit of using spherical coordonates(on ##\Re^n##)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/N-sphere#Spherical_coordinates

is that the induced metric(on "##S^n##") is just the restriction of the metric for r=cst.
How did you get your answer?
For an arbitrary dimension you can use the coordinate transformations rule for tensors(you know the metric of ##\Re^n## in cartesian coordinate, you know the transformations between them and the spherical coordinates)
 

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