Invariance of vectors due to changes in coordinate systems

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around the concept of vector invariance under changes in coordinate systems, specifically focusing on understanding how to determine invariance when only the components of a vector are known, without access to the basis vectors.

Discussion Character

  • Conceptual clarification, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants explore the definition of vectors and their invariance, questioning how components relate to the concept of invariance without basis vectors. Some participants attempt to clarify the relationship between components in different coordinate systems and the transformation laws that govern them.

Discussion Status

The discussion is active, with participants providing insights into the nature of vectors and their representations. There is a focus on transformation laws and how they indicate whether components represent an invariant vector. However, there is no explicit consensus reached on the original poster's understanding of the question.

Contextual Notes

Participants are navigating the complexities of vector representation and transformation laws, with some expressing uncertainty about the original question's clarity and intent.

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Homework Statement



How do I know that vector is invariant to changes of coordinate systems if i only have the components of the vector and not the basis vectors?

Homework Equations


let the vector in reference frame 1 be ds and the same vector in the reference frame 2 be ds1


The Attempt at a Solution



If ds=ds1

Is this correct?
 
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Not at all sure I understand the question.
A vector is usually thought of as existing independently of any co-ordinate system within which to represent it. So by definition the vector itself is invariant, but its representation is not.
 
Hi!

Id like to point out that I am the guy that made the post, accidentally logged in with the wrong account. So the exact question is

How do we know that a vector is invariant to changes of coordinate system if we only have the components of the vector and not the basis vectors?
 
Zamze said:
Hi!

Id like to point out that I am the guy that made the post, accidentally logged in with the wrong account. So the exact question is

How do we know that a vector is invariant to changes of coordinate system if we only have the components of the vector and not the basis vectors?

If you have the components in two coordinate systems, and the components are related by the proper transformation law, then the components are those of an invariant vector.
 
Thank you
 
Chestermiller said:
If you have the components in two coordinate systems, and the components are related by the proper transformation law, then the components are those of an invariant vector.

Exactly. This means that if X^{\mu},~X'^{\mu} are the components of your vector in two different basis (x^{\mu}),~(x'^{\mu}) you should have
X'^{\mu}=\frac{\partial x'^{\mu}}{\partial x^{\nu}}X^{\nu}
In this way X = X^{\mu}E_{\mu} represented on a basis (E_{\mu}) is an invariant object, as it should.
 

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