Past exam of the relativity course of the University of Cambridge 2016 Paper 1 3 Solution 2026-10-20
Use signature , coordinates and four-velocity normalized by . The derivative is the metric-compatible Levi-Civita connection. Fix the curvature sign by . Then the required contractions areWith , the contracted Bianchi identity gives . The Einstein field equations , with constant , therefore require covariant conservation of stress-energy. This is a consistency relation between geometry and the total matter/field source. It does not mean in arbitrary coordinates, nor guarantee a global conserved energy in an arbitrary curved spacetime. The geometric identity alone, without the field equations or matter dynamics, is not an equation of motion for a freely specified material source.
For relativistic dust, is proper rest-mass density, measured in the fluid rest frame, and is its timelike four-velocity with the normalization above. In a local Cartesian inertial frame , soAccordingly is momentum density and is energy flux in direction . The equality of momentum-density and energy-flux components after the appropriate factors of reflects the symmetry of the stress-energy tensor. In the comoving frame the spatial stress is zero, as required for pressureless matter.
Expand the dust conservation equation by the product rule:Contract with . metric compatibility and constant normalization give , leaving . Substitute this rest-mass continuity law back and divide by nonzero :This proves geodesic motion of uncharged dust along each fluid flow line. pressure forces or another exchange of momentum would change the argument; at zero density there is no dust worldline to constrain.
The electromagnetic field tensor is antisymmetric and has six independent components. In the stated local inertial coordinates choose and , givingThe fields are those measured by that local observer; changing observer mixes them through the Lorentz transformation of . With and , two independent quadratic contractions areThe second is a pseudoscalar: it is invariant under proper Lorentz transformations and changes sign under an orientation reversal. Opposite choices for the orientation tensor change its written sign. A nonzero null electromagnetic field can have both contractions zero, so the two numbers do not determine whether the tensor itself vanishes.
For charged relativistic dust, insert into the force-density equation:Contraction with again gives the continuity law, because by antisymmetry. After removing the continuity term,In a local inertial frame the spatial components reduce to and the temporal component gives . This is the relativistic Lorentz force, with gravity represented by the connection. The force is orthogonal to and preserves the rest-mass normalization. Matter alone now exchanges energy and momentum with the electromagnetic field; adding the field tensor's stress-energy restores zero divergence of the combined source.
Past exam of the relativity course of the University of Cambridge 2019 Section B B4 Solution 2026-10-18
Use signature and local inertial coordinates . Write and , where is rest mass density. The perfect fluid in general relativity has componentsHere is energy density, is energy flux, is momentum density, and is the flux of the th momentum component through a surface normal to . In the local rest frame these reduce to energy density , zero energy and momentum flow, and isotropic pressure . The equation expresses local stress-energy conservation. Its temporal and spatial components give energy and momentum balance; in flat coordinates, for example, .
For relativistic dust, . Contracting its divergence with , and using metric compatibility together with , givesConsequently . Substituting this continuity equation back into the divergence leaves . Wherever matter is present,so the individual particles follow geodesics.
The electromagnetic four-force law must preserve the particle's rest mass. Thus , and requiring this for arbitrary timelike four-velocities makes the electromagnetic field tensor antisymmetric. Its six independent components comprise the electric field and magnetic field. With the stated signature and , one consistent convention isIt gives the spatial force and energy transfer . Under a Lorentz transformation, transforms as a rank-two contravariant tensor; its electric and magnetic components consequently mix. A four-potential supplies , unchanged by . The Maxwell equations areThese combine the source equations and the homogeneous equations into covariant tensor statements; is the four-current.
For charged relativistic dust, the matter tensor exchanges four-momentum with the electromagnetic field: , while their total stress-energy tensor is conserved. Identical particles of rest mass and electric charge have . Contraction with again gives mass continuity because . Removing that term givesUsing zero divergence for the matter tensor alone in this last step would omit the electromagnetic Lorentz force.