TOR

Practice Questions
2024

1. a) Suppose I consider three dimensional cartesian plane. Here I consider

time as just a parameter. I define (x,y,z) coordinates (the usual cartesian
coordinates). And I define a ’velocity vector’ by (V x , V y , V z ) given by
(V x = dx/dt) and so on. Is the velocity vector contravariant vecotor?
Justify.
b) I now consider 4 dimensional space time with coordinates (t,x,y,z) and
define a ’velocity vector’ by (1, V x , V y , V z ). Is this a contravariant vector?
Justify.
2. If you are given two contravariant vectors A and B, we can construct a
second rank tensor K αβ = Aα B β . Every second rank tensor need not
be an “outer product” of two vectors. So, given any second rank tensor,
give atleast one test to determine if it is an outer product product of two
vectors or not.

3. In n dimensions, a second rank tensor has n2 components.

a) What are the number of independent components of a second rank ten-
sor T αβ that is also symmetric? (T αβ = T βα )
b) What are the number of independent components of a second rank
tensor Aαβ that is anti symmetric? (Aαβ = −Aβα )
c)To generalize part b, we consider an antisymmetric tensor of rank r (If
you interchange any two indices of the tensor of rank r, you get the same
tensor with a Minus sign). Find the number of independent components
of an rth (n > r)rank tensor (all indices contravariant).

4. Is the determinant of the metric tensor a scalar quantity? Prove your

answer.

5. Electric and Magnetic fields are not vectors but are actually components
of a second rank anti-symmetric tensor as shown.

Ex Ey Ez
 
0
−E x 0 B z −B y 
F µν =  y z
 (1)
−E −B 0 Bx 
z y x
−E B −B 0

where E i has the interpretation of being the component of Electric field in

i-th direction. Similarly B i has the interpretation of being the Magnetic
field in i-th direction.

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 a) Suppose you make a Lorentz transormation such that new primed co-
ordinates are t′ = γ(t − βx), x′ = γ(x − βt), y ′ = y and z ′ = z. Then in
this new frame, transform the tensor F µν and find the components in the
new inertial frame. You don’t have to evaluate the comonents exlicitly.
Just indicate the procedure. The new components have the same interpre-
tation as the Electric(E ′i and Magnetic fields B ′i in the i’-th direction in
the new inertial frame). This is how you can transform Electric field and
Magnetic field from one inertial frame to another. Since electricity and
magentism are all components of a second rank tensor, they are unified
and called Electro-Magnetic field.
b) Suppose in the unprimed inertial frame there is electric field only in
y direction E y = b. Rest all the components of electric and magnetic
fields are zero. Find the components of Electric and Magnetic fields in
the primed inertial frame (primed coordinates are given in part a). You
will see that a pure electric field in one frame is now electric and magnetic
field in some other inertial frame!! What is the Magnetic field in the z ′
direction? Use the fact that the final matrix has the following interpreta-
tion. ′ ′ ′ 
Ex Ey Ez

0
′ ′ ′
−E x 0 Bz −B y 
F ′µν = −E y′ −B z′ ′
 (2)
0 Bx 
′ ′ ′
−E z By −B x 0

6. Given two contravariant vector A and B, suppose I construct a quantity

X µν = Aµ + B ν . Is X µν a tensor? Give reasons for your answer.
7. Suppose A is an antisymmetric tensor of rank two with both indices upper
Aαβ such that Aαβ = −Aβα . “Lower” the indices of the above tensor to
Aµν . Prove that the resulting second rank tensor with covariant indices is
also antisymmetric.
µ
8. Prove that Rαβ obtained by contracting the Riemann Tensor Rαµβ is a
symmetric tensor.

9. In 3 dimensions, we can define polar coordinates given by (ρ, ϕ, z) with

the standard interpretation x = ρcos(ϕ), y = ρsin(ϕ) and z = z, where
x, y, z are the cartesian coordinates. Derive the expression for Laplacian
in polar coordinates.

10. There is a cricketer standing on the ground. He has a stopwatch on his

wrist. He attaches a similar stopwatch to a ball. He sets both the clocks
to zero and then throws the ball upwards (few meters) and catches it back
when it retunrs to the ground. He then compares the times measured in
both the clocks...i.e the stopwatch on his wrist and the stopwatch attached
to the ball. Which clock shows more time? and Why?

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11. In a 2 dimensional Cartesian plane, we can set up spherical coordinates
r, θ, where x = rcos(θ) and y = rsin(θ).
a) Write down the geodesic equation in r, θ coordinates (expanding the
Christoffel symbols).
b) Show that a straight line in the plane satisfies the geodesic equation
(to be done in spherical coordinates).
12. Consider the metric for a spacetime expressed in coordinate t, ρ, z, ϕ to be

ds2 = −A(ρ)dt2 + dρ2 + C(ρ)dz 2 + D(ρ)dϕ2 (3)

a) Write down three conserved quantities in geodesic motion. (the quan-

tities that are conserved along any geodesic).
dρ
b) Using the conserved quantities, to obtain dτ for the timelike geodesic
in terms of the conserved quantities and metric components(Hint: Use the
constraint on the 4-velocity).

13. The peak of a hill is at a radius R from the center of a spherically sym-
metric planet. One person A is situated at the peak of the hill. Another
person B is in circular orbit around the center of the planet at the same
distance R from the center. Both of them have their own stopwatches.
When they pass by each other, they start their their stopwatches. When
B completes one full revolution, they compare the readings of their stop-
watches. Which clock shows more and why?

14. The geodesic equation is

∂ 2 xα dxµ dxν
2
+ Γα
µν =0 (4)
dτ dτ dτ
where τ is a parameter that can be taken as proper time if the geodesic
are timelike.
a) Prove that the above equation is same as
α β
U;β U = 0, where U α = dxα /dτ
b)If instead of τ we choose some other parameter, say, γ where γ = f (τ ),
where f (τ ) is any one to one monotonically increasing function of τ .Prove
that the most general geodesic equation for any arbitrary parameter has
the form
V;βα V β = κ(γ)V α , where V α = dxα /dγ.

15. White-hole: by constructing “eddington finkelstein outgoing coordinates”

a) For the Schwarzschild blackhole metric written in Schwarzschild coor-
dinate t, r, θ, ϕ, and mass M , write down the equation for radial null rays
(the light rays that travel only along radial direction) by putting ds2 to
zero.
b) Identify the outgoing null ray by U and the ingoing null ray by V .
c) Rewrite the Schwarzschild metric using coordinates U, r, θ, ϕ (In class

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 we had rewritten using coordinates V, r, θ, ϕ to obtain Eddington Finkel-
stein ingoing coordinates).
d) Show that the metric singularity at r = 2M is no longer present but
singularity at r = 0 is still present.
e)From the metric derived in c), find the slopes of both the arms of the
lightcone (ingoing and outgoing) at any point U, r.
f) Draw U, r diagram and plot the surface r = 2M .
g) Draw the lightcones at three locations : 1) at a distance r > 2M , 2)
r = 2M , 3) r < 2M .
h) From this conclude that nothing that has any mass can cross r = 2M
from outside to inside.
i) any object with mass should be only travelling towards increasing r if
it’s radius is less than r = 2M .
Therefore it is like a “white hole”.

16. The Friedmann Robertson Walker metric that describes the universe is
given by
dr2
 
ds2 = −dt2 + a2 (t) + dΩ 2
(5)
1 − kr2
where k is either 0, 1, −1 and a(t) is the scale factor. The k = 1 represents
a closed universe. k = 0 represents flat universe and k = −1 hyperbolic.
The Friedmann equation that describes the evolution of the universe (for
the case where we have set pressures to zero) is
B
(ȧ)2 − = −k (6)
a
where the constant B depends on the energy density of the universe.
Prove that for a closed universe , the Universe originated at a big bang
(a(ti ) = 0) and ends in a big crunch(again a(tf ) = 0) for some ti and tf .

17. Consider your classroom. Suppose I shine a laser light from the mid point
of the front wall and point it horizontally towards the opposite wall. Let
the height from which the laser is fired be L and let the distance between
two walls be D. At what height from the floor would the dot from laser
light be when it reaches the opposite wall? Accelration due to gravity at
the location? 8 marks
18. Does a cylinder surface have ’intrinsic’ curvature? i.e if you stay on the
cylindrical surface and make geometric measurement, will there be devia-
tions from euclidean geometry?
19. Suppose i draw a square on a sphere. Then the sum of interior angles is
2π or greater than 2π or less than 2π?
20. Once again we consider a sphere of unit radius. On the sphere we install
coodinates θ, ϕ. So the distance between two neighbouing points is d2 =

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 dθ2 + sin2 (θ)dϕ2 .
a) Write down the metric and it’s inverse. Here assume that x1 = θ and
x2 = ϕ. So g11 = gθθ , g12 = gθϕ and so on.
b)Calculate all the Christoffel symbols Γαβγ where αβ, γ can be either θ
or ϕ. So basically all possible terms for e.g Γϕϕθ etc etc (note that once
you have supplied indices...there is no more summation. So the einstein
summation is only when you write it in a general form).
c) Show that when θ = π/2, (near the equator, all Christoffel symbols are
zero. (this means that all first derivatives of the metric are zero, which
means that this coordinate locally flat at θ = π/2.
d) Use the formula for Riemann tensor and calculate Rθϕθϕ .
e) Since you have evaluated all possible Christoffel symbols, write down
the geodesic equation on a sphere. Need not solve it.
21. δβα = 1 if α = β else zero. This is called the Kronecker Delta. Now this
statement is true in any coordinate system. Prove that δβα is a 2nd rank
tensor.

22. Justify that the ’equivalence principle’ i.e the fact that we can locally
construct a coordinate system that is flat is equivalent to the saying that
gαβ;γ = 0.
From the above, derive the form of the Christoffel symbols. These Christof-
fel symbols are called metric compatible connections.