- #1
BWV
- 1,519
- 1,845
Trying to teach myself basic tensor algebra and confused by some of the notation. Either a [1,1] mixed tensor or a covariant or contravariant tensor of rank two can be represented by a square matrix, correct?
Is it just a convention that the kronecker delta is represented as a mixed tensor while the metric tensor (which is in relativity is a signed identity matrix) is represented as a covariant tensor?
Relative to doing this math with linear algebra, the advantage of tensor notation and the concepts of covariance and contravariance is to give information as to the specific transformation properties rather than writing out all the dx's in matrix form?
Is it just a convention that the kronecker delta is represented as a mixed tensor while the metric tensor (which is in relativity is a signed identity matrix) is represented as a covariant tensor?
Relative to doing this math with linear algebra, the advantage of tensor notation and the concepts of covariance and contravariance is to give information as to the specific transformation properties rather than writing out all the dx's in matrix form?