Energy–Momentum Tensor

Abstract

AbstractThe energy–momentum tensor of a continuous physical system is introduced from considerations about a particle system. It is then interpreted in terms of quantities measurable by a given observer: energy density, linear-momentum density, energy-flux 1-form and stress tensor. The principle of energy–momentum conservation is stated, and its local expression is written in terms of the divergence of the energy–momentum tensor. The notion of four-force density is introduced, and the laws of energy conservation and linear-momentum conservation with respect to an inertial observer are given. The angular momentum of a physical system is defined, and the principle of angular momentum conservation is given. It is shown that this principle, in conjunction with that of energy–momentum conservation, implies that the energy–momentum tensor is symmetric.KeywordsEnergy Momentum ConservationFour-force DensityContinuous Physical SystemsLocal Rest SpaceField Energy Momentum TensorThese keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.