Consider the line element of the sphere of radius a: ds² a² (d0² + sin² 0 do ²). The only non-vanishing Christoffel symbols are го = -sin cos 0, ГФ 06 = rø 00= 1 tan 0
Consider the line element of the sphere of radius a: ds² a² (d0² + sin² 0 do ²). The only non-vanishing Christoffel symbols are го = -sin cos 0, ГФ 06 = rø 00= 1 tan 0
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c) The geodesics of the sphere are great circles. Thinking of θ = 0 as the North pole and θ = π as the South pole, find a set a solutions to the geodesic equation corresponding to meridians, and
also the solution corresponding to the equator.

Transcribed Image Text:Consider the line element of the sphere of radius a:
ds²a² (do²+ sin² 0 do ²).
The only non-vanishing Christoffel symbols are
го = − sin 0 cos 0,
ФФ
ГР =
rø
ГФ00 = ГФ
=
2.900
a) Write down the metric and the inverse metric, and use the definition
1
to reproduce the results written above for rº
(8μgvo + avguo doguv) rº,
vp
-
ΦΘ
and r
op
=
00*
1
tan 0
=
b) Write down the two components of the geodesic equation.
c) The geodesics of the sphere are great circles. Thinking of 0 = 0 as the North pole and = π
as the South pole, find a set a solutions to the geodesic equation corresponding to meridians, and
also the solution corresponding to the equator.
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