Calculating Mass-Energy of a System Without Using Pseudotensors

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In summary, you can treat a system as a whole and calculate its mass by summing all its energy. You can also calculate the mass of an object if you know its center of mass.
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I don't have a terse defintion, other than the mathematical formula, though I have a longish description of the Komar mass.

For the Komar mass:

You integrate the force, considered to be applied from a string "at infinity", over the area of a sphere enclosing a mass M (the area of the sphere is measured using local rulers - the force is measured using the "string at infinity").

You find that this number (force*area) is a constant, regardless of the radius of the sphere - much like Gauss's law. An important difference is that this isn't local force * local area, it's "force at infinity" * "local area". This is somewhat of an odd mix, but it's the mix that gives a constant number.

This turns into a formal defintion (Wald)

Thus we are led to the following defintion of the total mass of a static, asymptotically flat space-time which is a vacuum in the exterior region

[tex]
M = \frac{1}{8 \pi} \int_S \epsilon_{abcd} \nabla^c \xi^d
[/tex]

Here [itex]\xi^d[/itex] is a Killing vector field, normalized to have a unit magnitude at infinity.

In the case where the metric coefficients are not functions of time, it can be shown that the Killing field is just a unit, timelike vector.

This can be turned into a volume intergal rather than a surface intergal, which is the form I quoted earlier, by using Einstein's equation.

As far as the ADM mass goes, a derivation is given in appendex E of Wald which I don't follow particularly well, but is based on a Hamiltonian formulation of relativity.

Basically, I just use the resulting formula without fully appreciating where they came from. The formula are the same as those derived via the pseudotensor approach in MTW - i.e. the energy is defined as:

[tex]
E=\frac{1}{16 \pi}\int \left( \frac{\partial h_{ij}}{\partial x^i} - \frac{\partial h_{ii}}{\partial x^j} \right) N^j dA
[/tex]

where i,j range from 1..3 (i.e. over the spatial dimensions only). hij are the metric coefficients, N is a normal vector to the surface S.

Other intergals give the momentum.

You can see that this is in the form of a surface intergal. The pseudotensor approach also allows one to construct an equivalent volume intergal.

Unfortunately, MTW doesn't explictly say that the pseudotensor formula give the ADM energy and momentum, I am inferring this from the fact that the formula are the same.

Note that the ADM mass would be the invariant of the ADM energy-momentum 4-vector. If one choses a coordinate system in which the momentum is zero, the ADM energy is just mc^2.

The Komar mass must always be computed in a coordinate system in which the object is at rest, so it only gives an energy - the momentum will be zero.
 
<h2>What is the mass-energy of a system?</h2><p>The mass-energy of a system refers to the total amount of energy contained within the system, including both its mass and any potential or kinetic energy it possesses.</p><h2>How is mass-energy related to Einstein's famous equation, E=mc^2?</h2><p>E=mc^2 is a formula derived from Einstein's theory of relativity, which states that mass and energy are equivalent and can be converted into one another. This equation shows the relationship between mass and energy, where E represents energy, m represents mass, and c is the speed of light.</p><h2>Can mass-energy be created or destroyed?</h2><p>According to the law of conservation of energy, mass-energy cannot be created or destroyed, but it can be converted from one form to another. This means that the total mass-energy of a closed system will remain constant.</p><h2>How does mass-energy impact the behavior of a system?</h2><p>The mass-energy of a system plays a crucial role in determining its behavior. The more mass-energy a system has, the stronger its gravitational pull and the more energy it has to interact with other systems. This can affect the system's motion, stability, and other properties.</p><h2>What are some real-life examples of mass-energy in action?</h2><p>Some examples of mass-energy in action include nuclear reactions, where mass is converted into energy, and the gravitational pull of massive objects, such as planets and stars, which is a result of their mass-energy. The energy released by the sun through nuclear fusion is also a result of its mass-energy.</p>

FAQ: Calculating Mass-Energy of a System Without Using Pseudotensors

What is the mass-energy of a system?

The mass-energy of a system refers to the total amount of energy contained within the system, including both its mass and any potential or kinetic energy it possesses.

How is mass-energy related to Einstein's famous equation, E=mc^2?

E=mc^2 is a formula derived from Einstein's theory of relativity, which states that mass and energy are equivalent and can be converted into one another. This equation shows the relationship between mass and energy, where E represents energy, m represents mass, and c is the speed of light.

Can mass-energy be created or destroyed?

According to the law of conservation of energy, mass-energy cannot be created or destroyed, but it can be converted from one form to another. This means that the total mass-energy of a closed system will remain constant.

How does mass-energy impact the behavior of a system?

The mass-energy of a system plays a crucial role in determining its behavior. The more mass-energy a system has, the stronger its gravitational pull and the more energy it has to interact with other systems. This can affect the system's motion, stability, and other properties.

What are some real-life examples of mass-energy in action?

Some examples of mass-energy in action include nuclear reactions, where mass is converted into energy, and the gravitational pull of massive objects, such as planets and stars, which is a result of their mass-energy. The energy released by the sun through nuclear fusion is also a result of its mass-energy.

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