The usage of the terms rotation and boost

  • #1
kent davidge
933
56
If two coordinate systems are related by a rotation or a boost, does it make sense to say the tensors components are rotated or boosted with respect to their components in the original coordinates? For vectors, I think it is standard to say that, but what about general tensors?
 

Answers and Replies

  • #2
troglodyte
Gold Member
31
22
A tensor could be also a vector.One call it a one tensor.A rotation is only a mathematical construction.Of course, a boost is also a rotation but with a physical meaning involved .Here you make a rotation in a Lorentz invariant manner.So the (relativistic)physics holds under this specific transformation.In this case you rotate you Frame Of Reference by an angle theta .
 
  • Like
Likes kent davidge
  • #3
kent davidge
933
56
A tensor could be also a vector
I know that
One call it a one tensor.A rotation is only a mathematical construction.Of course, a boost is also a rotation but with a physical meaning involved .Here you make a rotation in a Lorentz invariant manner.So the (relativistic)physics holds under this specific transformation.In this case you rotate you Frame Of Reference by an angle theta .
I also know that

Your didn't answer my question at all.
 
  • #4
41,285
18,914
For vectors, I think it is standard to say that

I'm not sure it is. It's standard to say that vectors are rotated or boosted, but I'm not sure it's standard to say that vector components are.

what about general tensors?

Tensors of higher rank than 1 do not have a single "direction", so speaking of them as rotated or boosted by a coordinate transformation would not seem to make as much intuitive sense as the corresponding statement for a vector, which does have a single direction.
 
  • Like
Likes troglodyte and kent davidge
  • #5
troglodyte
Gold Member
31
22
Your didn't answer my question at all.
Sorry,than i have misinterpreted your question a bit.
 
  • Like
Likes kent davidge

Suggested for: The usage of the terms rotation and boost

  • Last Post
Replies
1
Views
602
Replies
14
Views
379
Replies
5
Views
592
Replies
11
Views
547
Replies
20
Views
874
Replies
4
Views
742
Replies
7
Views
616
Replies
1
Views
613
Replies
0
Views
22
Replies
10
Views
1K
Top