Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge / 2012 / iii / Paper 56 / 4 / a / ii / Solution

Let $u$ be the tangent vector to a geodesic with affine parameter $\lambda$. Its geodesic equation is ${\nabla }_{u}u=0$. For a Killing vector field $\xi$, metric compatibility givesThusThis geodesic conserved quantity from a Killing vector is independent of whether the geodesic is timelike, spacelike or null. For a timelike geodesic one can use proper time; for a null geodesic choose an affine parameter. An arbitrary nonaffine tangent rescales the displayed quantity and need not make it constant.