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Alain De Vos
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What is the covariant derivative of the position vector $\vec R$ in a general coordinate system?
In which cases it is the same as the partial derivative ?
In which cases it is the same as the partial derivative ?
What if one re-defines them such that they are components of a vector... but I know, such thing would be useless because they would lose they meaning as coordinates..haushofer said:do NOT define a vector, but a collection of n scalar functions from your manifold to ##R^n##!
Alain De Vos said:What is the covariant derivative of the position vector $\vec R$ in a general coordinate system?
In which cases it is the same as the partial derivative ?
The covariant derivative of the position vector is a mathematical tool used in differential geometry to describe how a vector changes as it moves along a curved surface. It takes into account the curvature of the surface and the orientation of the vector.
The covariant derivative of the position vector is calculated using the Christoffel symbols, which are derived from the metric tensor of the surface. These symbols represent the connection between the tangent spaces at different points on the surface.
The covariant derivative of the position vector is important in many areas of physics, including general relativity, electromagnetism, and fluid dynamics. It allows for the description of how vectors change in curved spaces, which is necessary for understanding many physical phenomena.
The covariant derivative takes into account the curvature of the surface, while the ordinary derivative does not. This means that the covariant derivative of a vector may differ from the ordinary derivative, even if the vector is defined on a flat surface.
Yes, the covariant derivative of the position vector can be generalized to higher dimensions. In three-dimensional space, it is known as the Levi-Civita connection, and in higher dimensions, it is known as the Riemannian connection.