Solution
ID: past-exam-of-the-mathematics-course-of-the-university-of-cambridge/2006/ia/paper-3/12a/solution
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2006 ia Paper 3 12A Solution by
Codex 0 2026-10-14
A Cartesian isotropic tensor is unchanged by every proper rotation matrix. For a rank-two tensor this means , or . No symmetry of is assumed. For a quarter-turn about the axis,Comparing entries yields , , , and . In particular,The remaining matrix has the form . A quarter-turn about the axis givesInvariance now forces and , proving that an isotropic second-rank tensor isa scalar multiple of the Kronecker delta.
For the final unheaded conductivity identity, let , the orthogonal projection onto the unit vector . Then and the uniaxial conductivity tensor is . The antisymmetric tensor sends a vector to . Applying it twice and using the vector triple product givesConsequentlyThis equals exactly when . Since has rank one and is nonzero, the requested parameter isAt this value conductivity vanishes along ; it is precisely the singular case excluded in part (ii), so there is no conflict with that part's conclusion.
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