Classical Covariance

Abstract

Classical mechanics, from point particles through rigid objects and continuum mechanics is reviewed based on the notions of tensors, transformations, and the metric, as developed in the first two chapters. The geodesic equation on flat and curved spaces is introduced and solved in a classical setting. Motion in a potential, particularly a gravitational potential, is discussed. Galilean covariance and transformations are introduced. Time as a fourth dimension is shown to arise even in a classical setting, even if not as rigorous as it would be in relativity theory.