1.II.14A

Methods | Part IB, 2006

Define a second rank tensor. Show from your definition that if MijM_{i j} is a second rank tensor then MiiM_{i i} is a scalar.

A rigid body consists of a thin flat plate of material having density ρ(x)\rho(\mathbf{x}) per unit area, where x\mathbf{x} is the position vector. The body occupies a region DD of the (x,y)(x, y)-plane; its thickness in the zz-direction is negligible. The moment of inertia tensor of the body is given as

Mij=D(xkxkδijxixj)ρdSM_{i j}=\int_{D}\left(x_{k} x_{k} \delta_{i j}-x_{i} x_{j}\right) \rho d S

Show that the zz-direction is an eigenvector of MijM_{i j} and write down an integral expression for the corresponding eigenvalue MM_{\perp}.

Hence or otherwise show that if the remaining eigenvalues of MijM_{i j} are M1M_{1} and M2M_{2} then

M=M1+M2.M_{\perp}=M_{1}+M_{2} .

Find MijM_{i j} for a circular disc of radius aa and uniform density having its centre at the origin.

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