Index Notation Problem Sheet

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Index notation: problem sheet

Chris Hooley, Physics and Astronomy, St Andrews 20th September 2010


This sheet of problems is intended to complement the video-recorded short lectures on index notation available on the Schools web pages. 1. In this question, we shall deal with the following three vectors: 7 4 1 8 . 5 , 2 , C= B= A= 9 6 3 (a) Write the dot product of A and B in index notation. Evaluate it by doing the sum(s) explicitly. (b) Write the cross product of B and C in index notation. Evaluate it by doing the sum(s) explicitly. (c) Write the scalar triple product A (B C) in index notation. Hence prove that the scalar triple product is invariant under cyclic permutation of the three vectors involved. Evaluate the triple product by doing the sum(s) explicitly. (d) Calculate Aj Cj . (Dont forget about the Einstein summation convention!) (e) What kind of entity is Aj Bk , and how many components does it have? Calculate them all. 2. In this question, we shall deal with vector elds, i.e. vectors whose value depends on position. The simplest of these is the radial vector, r, given by x y . r= z We shall also consider the electric eld of a point charge at the origin, E= q 4 0 r3 r.

Finally, let F(r) and G(r) be arbitrary position-dependent vectors. (a) Show, using index notation, that i. the divergence of r is 3; ii. the curl of r is zero. (b) Write out the components of E explicitly. Using index notation, and doing the sums explicitly, evaluate E. Comment on your result.

(c) Similarly, evaluate

E. Comment on your result.

(d) Show, using index notation, that the arbitrary vector elds F and G obey the following identities: i. ii. iii. ( F) = 0. ( F) = ( F) 2 F. (F G) = G ( F) F (

G) .

3. Maxwells equations in free space are given by E =


0

; B ; t
0 0

E = B = 0;

B = 0 j + Rewrite these equations in index notation.

E . t

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