# Spacetime Metric: Which signature is better?

• I
Gold Member

## Main Question or Discussion Point

It seems that, in general, mathematicians prefer the (-,+,+,+) signature for the Minkowski spacetime metric while most physicists prefer the (+,-,-,-) signature. Is there any evidence that Nature actually prefers one over the other?

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PAllen
2019 Award
Nature cannot have a preference since no physics is changed. The only possible answer, IMO, is the one that you will make fewer mistakes with.

Meir Achuz
Homework Helper
Gold Member
I think physicists prefer +--- for several reasons.
Time goes forward, space can go in either direction.
The four vector (E;p,p,p) has the length^2: E ^2-p^2=m^2. -m^2 would be awkward.

Ben Niehoff
Gold Member
I think pretty much anyone who works in dimensions other than 4 prefers (-+++...). There is a great benefit to not having to remember exactly how many minus signs you have to think about when working with Levi-Cività tensors, for example.

Orodruin
Staff Emeritus
Homework Helper
Gold Member
The question was what Nature prefers, not what physicists or mathematicians prefer. PAllen nailed it in the first sentence:
Nature cannot have a preference since no physics is changed.
The thread could have been locked at that point.

PeterDonis
Mentor
2019 Award
The thread could have been locked at that point.
And now it is.