Published online by Cambridge University Press: 20 November 2018
Let $X$ be a smooth projective geometrically connected curve over a finite field with function field
$K$. Let
$g$ be a connected semisimple group scheme over
$X$. Under certain hypotheses we prove the equality of two numbers associated with
$g$. The first is an arithmetic invariant, its Tamagawa number. The second is a geometric invariant, the number of connected components of the moduli stack of
$g$-torsors on
$X$. Our results are most useful for studying connected components as much is known about Tamagawa numbers.