University Exam Collected Previous Year
Questions from Mathematical Physics–I
(Matrices, Tensors, Fourier and Laplace Transforms)
Section A
1. Show that the matrix
cos θ sin θ
− sin θ cos θ
is an orthogonal matrix.
2. What are Hermitian and Unitary matrices?
3. What is meant by similarity transformation?
4. Define orthogonal matrices.
5. Explain the physical significance of unitary transformations.
6. Define outer product of tensors with an example.
7. Define a covariant and a contravariant tensor.
8. State the quotient rule of tensors.
9. Define Levi–Civita symbol and explain its properties.
10. Show that the operation of contraction reduces the rank of a tensor by two.
11. State the convolution theorem for Fourier transforms.
12. Define Fourier transform and inverse transform.
13. Write down any three properties of Fourier series.
14. What are the advantages of using Fourier transforms of derivatives?
15. Find the Laplace transform of f (t) = t.
16. Find the Laplace transform of f (t) = e−at .
17. Define Laplace transform of a function. Do all functions have a Laplace transform?
18. If λ is an eigenvalue of a matrix A, show that λ2 is an eigenvalue of A2 .
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19. Prove that any arbitrary matrix can be decomposed into the sum of a Hermitian
and an anti-Hermitian matrix.
20. If A and B are Hermitian matrices, show that AB + BA is also Hermitian.
21. Define rotation matrix. Write down the rotation matrix for rotation through an
angle θ about the z-axis.
22. If A is an orthogonal matrix, prove that det(A) = ±1.
Section B
1. Explain the Gram–Schmidt orthogonalization process with an example.
2. Discuss Hermitian, Unitary, and Orthogonal matrices with examples. Show that
eigenvectors of Hermitian matrices are orthogonal and eigenvalues are real.
3. Explain the method of diagonalisation and its importance.
4. Diagonalize the matrix by a similarity transformation (method question).
5. Diagonalize the matrix
1 1 0
A = 0 1 1
1 0 1
by a similarity transformation.
6. Diagonalize the matrix " #
0 1
B=
1 0
by a similarity transformation.
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7. A matrix A has eigenvalues +1 and −1. The corresponding eigenvectors are
1
1
and . Construct A.
−1
8. Explain the difference between diagonalisation by similarity and diagonalisation by
unitary transformation. When is each applicable?
9. Define beta and gamma functions and derive the relation between the two.
10. Show that the Fourier transform of a Gaussian function is Gaussian.
11. Explain the properties of Fourier series: convergence, integration, and differentia-
tion.
12. Define a Fourier transform and explain five important properties.
13. Explain the convolution theorem in the context of Fourier transform.
14. Solve a simple harmonic oscillator problem using Laplace transform.
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Section C
1. Show that the direct product of two vectors Ap and B q , given by C pq = Ap B q , is a
second-rank tensor.
2. Prove that single contraction of a tensor Aijkℓ gives a tensor of rank three.
3. Find the eigenvalues and eigenvectors of
cos θ sin θ
A= .
− sin θ cos θ
4. Hence diagonalize A by a similarity transformation.
5. Find the eigenvalues and eigenvectors of
1 1
A= ,
1 −1
and hence diagonalize A.
6. If A and B are Hermitian, show that i(AB − BA) is also Hermitian.
7. Find the eigenvalues of
−1 2 −2
A = 1 2 1 ,
1 0 1
and hence diagonalize it.
8. Prove that an arbitrary matrix can be expressed as a linear combination of unitary
matrices.
9. Find the eigenvalues and eigenvectors of the matrix
1 1 1
A = 1 1 1 .
1 1 1
Hence diagonalize A by a similarity transformation.
10. Prove that the Fourier convolution of two functions f (x) and g(x) is commutative.
11. Find the Fourier series expansion of f (x) = ex in the interval 0 < x < 2π.
12. Expand the function f (x) = sin x as a cosine series in (0, π).
13. Find the Fourier sine transform of e−ax .
14. Evaluate the Laplace transform of cos t.
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15. Determine the inverse Laplace transform of .
s2 + b2