If _f_ denotes a space-time vector of the second kind, lor _f_ is
equivalent to a space-time vector of the first kind. The geometrical
significance can be thus brought out. We have seen that the operator
‘lor’ behaves in every respect like a four-vector. The vector-product of
a four-vector and a six-vector is again a four-vector. Therefore it is
easy to see that lor S will be a four-vector. Let us find the component
of this four-vector in any direction _s_. Let S denote the three-space
which passes through the point Q (_x₁_, _x₂_, _x₃_, _x₄_) and is
perpendicular to _s_, ΔS a very small part of it in the region of Q,
_d_σ is an element of its two-dimensional surface. Let the perpendicular
to this surface lying in the space be denoted by _n_, and let _f__{_s_
_n_} denote the component of _f_ in the plane of (_sn_) which is
evidently conjugate to the plane _d_σ. Then the _s_-component of the
vector divergence of _f_ because the operator lor multiplies _f_
vectorially.
= Div _f__{_s_} = Lim (∫ _f__{_s_ _n_}_d_σ)/ΔS.
Δ_s_ = 0
Where the integration in _d_σ is to be extended over the whole surface.
If now _s_ is selected as the _x_-direction, Δ_s_ is then a
three-dimensional parallelopiped with the sides _dy_, _dz_, _dl_, then
we have
$$ Div f_{x} = \frac{1}{dy dz dl} {dz. dl. \frac{\partial
f_{xy}}{\partial y} dy + dl dy \frac{\partial f_{xy}}{\partial z} dz +
dy dz \frac{\partial f_{xy}}{\partial l} dl} = \frac{\partial
f_{xy}}{\partial y} + \frac{\partial f_{xy}}{\partial z} +
\frac{\partial f_{xy}}{\partial l} $$
and generally
Div _f__{_j_} = ∂_f__{_j_ _x_}/∂_x_ + ∂_f__{_j_ _y_}/∂_y_ +
∂_f__{_j_ _z_}/∂_z_ + ∂_f__{_j_ _l_}/∂_l_ (where _f__{_j_, _j_} =
0).
Hence the four-components of the four-vector lor S or Div. _f_ is a
four-vector with the components given on page 42.
According to the formulae of space geometry, D_{_x_} denotes a
parallelopiped laid in the (_y_-_z_-_l_) space, formed out of the
vectors (P_{_y_} P_{_z_} P_{_l_}), (U_{_y_}^* U_{_z_}^* U_{_l_}^*)
(V_{_y_}^* V_{_z_}^* V_{_l_}^*).
D_{_x_} is therefore the projection on the _y-z-l_ space of the
parallelopiped formed out of these three four-vectors (P, U^*, V^*), and
could as well be denoted by Dyzl. We see directly that the four-vector
of the kind represented by (D_{_x_}, D_{_y_}, D_{_z_}, D_{_l_}) is
perpendicular to the parallelopiped formed by (P U^* V^*).
Generally we have
(P_f_) = PD + P^*D^*.
∴ The vector of the third type represented by (P_f_) is given by the
geometrical sum of the two four-vectors of the first type PD and P^*D^*.
[M. N. S.]
● Transcriber’s Notes:
○ The book's idiosyncratic spelling, emphasis, punctuation, and
symbology especially in mathematical formulas, have been retained.
○ Text that was in italics is enclosed by underscores (_italics_).
Text that was in bold face is enclosed by equals signs (=bold=).
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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