Let , , be a differentiable, invertible change of coordinates, with Cartesian…
PHYSICS · Multi-part · Fermi University Physics · Mathematical Methods for Physics · Vector calculus and field geometry · Tensors and differential geometry
Conditions of Validity, Ch A coordinate system is a map: the metric, the scale factors and where a chart fails
Problem
Let r:Rn→Rn, r=r(u1,…,un), be a differentiable, invertible change of coordinates, with Cartesian components x1,…,xn. Let Dr be the n×n matrix with entries (Dr)ki=∂xk/∂ui, and let gij=ei⋅ej be the metric of the coordinate basis ei=∂r/∂ui.
((a)) Show that the matrix g with entries gij satisfies g=(Dr)TDr.
((b)) Hence prove that detg=(detDr)2 for any n, and deduce detg=∣J∣, where J=detDr is the Jacobian determinant.