I found a video that has some features of a definition in it, although is has a lot to say about examples. By the end you will see the features:
Transformation rules must be explicitly stated in a formal definition of a second rand tensor or any tensor.Jim Adrian
Perfect,
I don't recall asking for "easy to understand" and I don't insist on Internet sources, only inexpensive ones.
It would be nice if somebody said "A second-rank tensor is . . . . . . ." without including the term "second-rank tensor" in the . . . . . . . and placing in this description...
This is very interesting. I would appreciate any definition or a second-rank tensor that does not refer to a matrix.
Thank you for your help.Jim Adrian
You might be surprised by how many descriptions of the concept of a tensor are online that are not formal definitions but explanations based on examples. After more that thirty of of these, I posted my question.
Perhaps you could quote a good one.Jim Adrian
Here is Einstein's Equation:
8(π)G(Tμν)
__________
Gμν =
c4This equation is often referred to in the plural as Einstein's Equations. This is because the subscripts, μ (pronounced Myu) and ν (pronounced Noo) each may independently take on integer...
A second-order tensor is comprised at least of a two-dimensional matrix, as an nth-order tensor is comprised at least of an n-dimensional matrix, but what else is in the formal definition.
A scientific definition needs to name the term being defined, and describe the meaning of that term only...
Ibix,
Thank you for this message. I have a lot of calculus, but the course I'm taking does not use anything but simple algebra. If there is an online course that does not spare the math in explaining special relativity, I would like to know about it. I have seen a general relativity course...
The excerpt I gave was the best I could do because his argument is long-winded and spread all over his chapter entitled "The Twin Paradox." His argument relies on the universe as a whole being a special frame of reference and he adds gravity to the argument in a way that does not explain...
I have been taking an online course through Coursera that is from Stanford University (free if you don't want college credit). I watched about 15 lectures yesterday to get finally to the twin paradox.
Understanding Einstein: The Special Theory of Relativity...
Gardner says that when one takes the point of view of the Earth moving away from the spaceship as having an equal standing, the problem is that the whole universe moves with the Earth. He then points out the Mossbauer effect (Scientific American, March 1960). He does not explain how it works...
The Twin Paradox implies that the universe as a whole is a special frame of motion according to "Relativity Simply Explained" by Martin Gardner. I want to be sure than I haven't misunderstood something. I don't find the explanation completely clear. If the universe as a whole is a special and...