Scalar Definition: Transformations & Frames

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The discussion focuses on the terminology used to differentiate between scalars that transform between frames and those that remain invariant. Energy is identified as a single-component quantity that varies across frames, while the length of a vector is a scalar that remains consistent across frames. The terms "Galilean invariant scalars" and "Lorentz invariant scalars" are established to categorize scalars based on their frame invariance, with the Lagrangian density classified as a Lorentz scalar and the time-like component of the 4-momentum (energy) not being a Lorentz scalar. The conversation emphasizes the importance of context in understanding these distinctions.

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Is there conventional terminology to distinguish between scalars that transform between frames and those that don't? For example, energy is a single-component quantity but it isn't the same in every frame, whereas the length of a vector is also a scalar but is the same in every frame. Do we just call these both scalars, and be precise about what we mean, or are there terms for these different kinds of single-component quantities?
 
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In general, it is understood very easily from context. However there are names ascribed to certain special scalars, as far as physics goes, that distinguishes them based on frame invariance. For example, scalars invariant under Galilean boosts are called Galilean invariant scalars and scalars invariant under Lorentz boosts are called Lorentz invariant scalars or just Lorentz scalars. Thus the Lagrangian density is a Lorentz scalar whereas the time-like component of the 4-momentum, which is the energy as you stated, is not a Lorentz scalar (nor even a Galilean scalar). As purely mathematical mappings however, they are both functions of space-time into the reals so there isn't much distinction in that regard.
 

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