Laws of physics in four-vector form. A question.

In summary, the laws of physics do not necessarily have to be written in four-vector form to remain unchanged in every inertial frame. However, using the four-vector form allows for the invariance of the Lorentz interval to be included in the formalism, making it more convenient. Other formalisms may also be used, but they would not explicitly show the Lorentz invariance.
  • #1
lslusa
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Please explain me in mathematical way, why the laws of physics have to be written in four-vector form to remain unchanged in every inertial frame.
 
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  • #2
The Lorentz interval is invariant. Using the 4-vector form makes the invariance of the Lorentz interval part of the formalism of the description of the laws of physics. It's possible to use other formalisms that don't have Lorentz invariance "built in", so in that sense you don't "have to" write the laws of physics in 4-vector form. It's just very convenient. An alternate description that got the same result would just "hide" the Lorentz invariance, rather than making it manifest.
 
  • #3
lslusa said:
Please explain me in mathematical way, why the laws of physics have to be written in four-vector form to remain unchanged in every inertial frame.

As written, your question is a little too restrictive, I think. There are laws pertaining to electromagnetism, for instance, that can be written in terms of a certain antisymmetric tensor, which is not the same as a four-vector. (It so happens that the tensor in question can be written in terms of derivatives of a four-vector potential, but that's an issue for another day.) Maybe your question should be re-phrased as "Why do the laws have to be written in covariant tensor form?" But then, as pervect has pointed out, they don't absolutely have to be written that way. In fact, for decades electromagnetism used the fields E, D, B, and H, which in fact are three-vectors and three-pseudovectors, and thus are not covariant.
 

Related to Laws of physics in four-vector form. A question.

1. What are the four fundamental forces of nature and how are they represented in four-vector form?

The four fundamental forces of nature are gravity, electromagnetism, strong nuclear force, and weak nuclear force. In four-vector form, these forces are represented as four-dimensional vectors, with the time component representing the force's strength and the spatial components representing its direction. For example, the electromagnetic force is represented by the electromagnetic four-potential, which contains four components: the scalar potential and the three components of the vector potential.

2. How does Einstein's theory of relativity affect the laws of physics in four-vector form?

Einstein's theory of relativity revolutionized the way we understand space and time, and it also has a significant impact on the laws of physics in four-vector form. In this theory, space and time are considered as a unified four-dimensional space-time, and physical quantities are described using four-vectors. This allows for a more comprehensive understanding of the laws of physics, particularly in regards to how they behave in different reference frames.

3. Can you explain how the Lorentz transformation is used in four-vector form?

The Lorentz transformation is a mathematical formula that describes how time and space measurements change when observed from different reference frames. In four-vector form, the Lorentz transformation is used to transform the components of a four-vector between different reference frames. This is essential in understanding how physical quantities behave in different frames of reference and is a crucial concept in relativity.

4. How does the concept of energy-momentum relate to four-vectors?

Energy and momentum are two fundamental concepts in physics, and they are closely related to four-vectors. In four-vector form, the energy and momentum of a particle are represented by the components of the four-momentum vector, with the time component representing the energy and the spatial components representing the momentum. This allows for a more elegant and unified description of these two quantities.

5. How are Maxwell's equations represented in four-vector form?

Maxwell's equations are a set of four fundamental equations that describe the behavior of electromagnetic fields. In four-vector form, these equations are represented by the electromagnetic four-potential, which contains four components that correspond to the electric and magnetic fields. This approach allows for a more compact and elegant representation of these equations, making it easier to understand and apply them in different scenarios.

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