Coordinates Definition and 1000 Threads

  1. T

    Solving Poisson-Boltzmann equation in Cylindrical and Spherical Coordinates

    Homework Statement I don't have a specific problem in mind, it's more that I forgot how to solve the particular equation from first principles. \nabla^{2} \Phi = k^{2}\Phi Places I've looked so far have just quoted the results but I would like the complete method or the appropriate...
  2. M

    Understanding Spherical Coordinates

    questioning what ρ does. What is the difference between the two equations? Let k be the angle from the positive z-axis and w be the angle from the pos x-axis parametric equation of a sphere with radius a paramet eq. 1: x = asin(k)cos(w) y = asin(k)sin(w) z= acos(k) 0≤w≤2pi 0≤k≤pi...
  3. A

    Generalized coordinates - Rotating pendulum

    My question is kinda simple but it has been causing me some trouble for a while. In the problem of the pendulum rotating about an axis, why isn't the angle of rotation about the axis a generalized coordinate? The doubt appears when i try to write the hamiltonian for the system and i don't know...
  4. M

    Stress Tensor in Spherical Coordinates

    Homework Statement Calculate the deformation of a sphere of radius R and density \rho under the influence of its own gravity. Assume Hooke's law holds for the material. Homework Equations Not applicable; my question is simply one of understanding. The Attempt at a Solution I want...
  5. C

    MHB Circle problem finding coordinates of points

    Continued from; Originally Posted by Jameson http://www.mathhelpboards.com/f2/understanding-how-deal-fractions-using-brackets-2596/#post11674 What is the full problem you are trying to solve? I can't make sense of your post until I know that. I have a circle problem and am trying to find...
  6. zonde

    How Do Rindler Coordinates Affect Time Dilation and Acceleration?

    It seems that acceleration at some point in Rindler coordinates completely determines it's distance from rindler horizon, right? If we have two rockets with equal hight and experiencing equal acceleration at the bottom there are no other parameters we can vary to get different results for two...
  7. C

    Double integration when switching to polar coordinates

    Homework Statement Take the double integration of http://webwork.usi.edu/webwork2_files/tmp/equations/08/1294e87299342c0ccfe2f8a97055da1.png when f(x)=sqrt(4x-x^2) Homework Equations x=rcos(theta) y=rsin(theta) The Attempt at a Solution I know I plug in the r*cos(theta) and...
  8. P

    Expressing a complex function as polar coordinates

    Homework Statement Consider the complex function f (z) = (1 + i)^z with z ε ℂ. 1. Express f in polar coordinates. Homework Equations The main derived equations are in the following section, there is no 'special rule' that I (to my knowledge) need to apply here. The Attempt at a...
  9. F

    Evaluate integral by using spherical coordinates

    ∫03∫0sqrt(9-x2)∫sqrt(x2+y2)sqrt(18-x2-y2) (x2+y2+z2)dzdxdy x=\rhosin\varphicosθ y=\rhosin\varphisinθ z=\rhocos\varphi Change the integrand to \rho and integrate wrt d\rhodθd\varphi I don't know how to find the limits of integration. Normally I would draw a picture and reason it out...
  10. W

    Spherical Coordinates Question

    In spherical coordinates we have three axes namely r, θ, ∅ the ranges of these axes are 0≤r≤∞ 0≤θ≤∏ 0≤∅≤2∏ what will happen in a physical situation if we allow θ to change from zero to 2∏
  11. S

    Christoffel Symbols of Vectors and One-Forms in say Polar Coordinates

    Hello all, I've been going through Bernard Schutz's A First Course In General Relativity, On Chapter 5 questions atm. Should the Christoffel Symbols for a coordinate system (say polar) be the same for vectors and one-forms in that coordinate system? I would have thought yes, but If you...
  12. D

    Can tensors be defined without using coordinates in a physics-friendly way?

    My class is starting to cover E&M in Lorentz covariant form, and obviously the subject of tensors came up. The problem is that my prof defines tensors in terms of coordinates, which is ugly and against the spirit of relativity. Is there a way of doing tensors coordinate-free in a physics...
  13. O

    Transformation from cartesian to cylindrical coordinates

    Homework Statement I'm trying to get to grips with Godel's 1949 Paper on Closed Time-like Curves (CTCs). Currently I'm trying to confirm his transformation to cylindrical coordinates using maple but seem to keep getting the wrong answer. Homework Equations The line element in cartesian...
  14. A

    How Does Spacetime Curvature Affect Tangential Light Speed Measurements?

    The coordinate speed of light relative to its speed at infinity is calculated as (1-2M/r)c (at infinity) yes?? SO it makes sense that local measurements made with local rulers and clocks which are contracted and dilated respectively would still be c for radial measurements. But how does that...
  15. M

    Double integral using polar coordinates

    The question is in the paint document I wanted to know why they integrated from 0 to pi and not from 0 to 2pi
  16. L

    Solid hemisphere center of mass in spherical coordinates

    Hello, I am struggling with what was supposed to be the simplest calc problem in spherical coordinates. I am trying to fid the center of mass of a solid hemisphere with a constant density, and I get a weird result. First, I compute the mass, then apply the center of mass formula. I divide...
  17. D

    Triple integral in spherical coordinates

    Homework Statement The problem is to calculate the volume of the region contained within a sphere and outside a cone in spherical coordinates. Sphere: x2+y2+z2=16 Cone: z=4-√(x2+y2) Homework Equations I am having difficulty converting the equation of the cone into spherical coordinates...
  18. P

    Laplacian in Spherical Coordinates

    Homework Statement Homework Equations All above. The Attempt at a Solution Tried the first few, couldn't get them to work. Any ideas, hopefully for each step?
  19. C

    Log transform on cylindrical coordinates

    Homework Statement I'd like to do a log transform on the radius variable of the heat conservation equation: qr - qr + Δr= ΔE/Δt where qr= -kA(dT/dr) My solution for this equation in cylindrical coordinates is: Tt+Δt=Tt+(Δt*k)/(ρ*c*Δr^2)* [(Tt-1-Tt)/(ln(rt/rt-1) - (Tt-Tt+1)/(ln(rt+1/rt)]...
  20. K

    Help with a triple integral in spherical coordinates

    Homework Statement Use spherical coordinates. Evaluate\int\int\int_{E}(x^{2}+y^{2}) dV where E lies between the spheres x2 + y2 + z2 = 9 and x2 + y2 + z2 = 25. The attempt at a solution I think my problem may be with my boundaries. From the given equations, I work them out to be...
  21. B

    Scalar product in spherical coordinates

    Hello! I seem to have a problem with spherical coordinates (they don't like me sadly) and I will try to explain it here. I need to calculate a scalar product of two vectors \vec{x},\vec{y} from real 3d Euclidean space. If we make the standard coordinate change to spherical coordinates we can...
  22. H

    Cannot finish calculating a double integral with change of coordinates

    Homework Statement Integrate: \displaystyle f\left( x,y \right)=\frac{{{x}^{2}}}{{{x}^{2}}+{{y}^{2}}} on the region: \displaystyle D=\left\{ \left( x,y \right)\in {{\mathbb{R}}^{2}}:0\le x\le 1,{{x}^{2}}\le y\le 2-{{x}^{2}} \right\} TIP: Use change of coordinates: \displaystyle...
  23. 3

    What is the triple integral of z^2(x^2 + y^2) over a bounded cylindrical region?

    Homework Statement Let W= {(x,y,z)| x^2 + y^2 ≤ 1, -1 ≤ z ≤ 1} (W is a bounded cylindrical region) Evaluate the triple integral f(x,y,z)= z^2 x^2 + z^2 y^2 over W. Use cylindrical coordinates Homework Equations i don't see any relevant equations besides the obvious cylindrical...
  24. M

    Physical Meaning of r in BL Coordinates

    Not much else to say other than the title. In the Schwarzschild spacetime, the radial coordinate r didn't represent radial distance, but it at least represented the thing that determines the area of a sphere centered on the large mass. It doesn't seem like that interpretation can be given to the...
  25. D

    MHB Boundary conditions spherical coordinates

    Laplace axisymmetric $u(a,\theta) = f(\theta)$ and $u(b,\theta) = 0$ where $a<\theta<b$. The general soln is $$ u(r,\theta) = \sum_{n=0}^{\infty}A_n r^n P_n(\cos\theta) + B_n\frac{1}{r^{n+1}}P_n(\cos\theta) $$ I am supposed to obtain $$ u(r,\theta) = \sum_{n =...
  26. A

    Shifting coordinates for mechanical problems

    More and more my teacher has talked about how results for mechanical problems are the same no matter what our coordinate system is (though it may be easier to calculate them in some coordinate frames). I must however admit, that I have never really had a clear explanation of what it means to do...
  27. N

    Going from cylindrical to cartesian coordinates

    Homework Statement Hi The expression for the magnetic field from an infinite wire is \boldsymbol B(r) = \frac{\mu_0I}{2\pi}\frac{1}{r} \hat\phi which points along \phi. I am trying to convert this into cartesian coordinates, and what I get is \boldsymbol B(x, y) =...
  28. F

    Finding 2D coordinates in different frames

    Hi guys, i need help for homework, it seems easy, but i can't do it:cry:, no calculation to do only writing 2D coordinates in different frames. Homework Statement The hallmark of an inertial frame is that any object which is subject to zero net force will travel in a straight line in a...
  29. U

    Number of points having integral coordinates

    Homework Statement Let A,B,C be three sets of complex numbers as defined below A = {z:|z+1|\leq2+Re(z)}, B = {z:|z-1|\geq1} and C=\left\{z: \frac{|z-1|}{|z+1|}\geq 1 \right\} The number of point(s) having integral coordinates in the region A \cap B \cap C is Homework Equations...
  30. W

    Finding coordinates of a point on a circle( angle and distance from O known)

    1. I basicly have to find the coordinates of P. All the pink lines are know, coordinates of points A and centre of circle are know. 2. (x-a)^2 + (y-b)^2 = r^2 [b]3. I try to substitute mx+c into the equation and get (x-a)^2 + (y-mx-c)^2 + r^2= 0 but I can't work out what m and c...
  31. G

    Velocity of flow in cylindrical coordinates

    An infinitely long cylindrical bucket with radius a is full of water and rotates with constant angular velocity \Omega about its horizontal axis. The gravity is in the vertical direction. The velocity of the flow in cylindrical coordinates (whose z axis is the horizontal axis of the bucket) is...
  32. B

    Using polar coordinates, show that lim (x,y)->(0,0) [sin(x^2+y^2)]/[x^2+y^2] = 1

    Homework Statement Using polar coordinates, show that lim (x,y)->(0,0) [sin(x^2+y^2)]/[x^2+y^2] = 1 Homework Equations r^2=x^2+y^2 The Attempt at a Solution I was able to get the limit into polar coordinates: lim r->0^+ [sin(r^2)]/r^2 but I'm not sure how to take this limit. I tried...
  33. M

    Dynamics Polar Coordinates question

    Hi everyone. I am a little desperated cause my exam is on monday and still much stuff to do. I don't get when I am supposed to use/consider radial and tranversal forces. Most excercises say "it rotates on the horizontal or vertical" I guess this is the info that tells me if there is...
  34. D

    MHB Laplace equation polar coordinates

    I have never solved an equation in polar form. I am not sure with how to start. Solve Laplace's equation on a circular disk of radius a subject to the piecewise boundary condition $$ u(a,\theta) = \begin{cases} 1, & \frac{\pi}{2} - \epsilon < \theta < \frac{\pi}{2} + \epsilon\\ 0, &...
  35. M

    Express the equation in rectangular coordinates

    Homework Statement An equation is given in spherical coordinates. Express the equation in rectangular coordinates. r2cos2∅=z So first thing I did was used a half angle formula r2 (cos2∅-sin2∅=z Now, I'm stuck. The answer is x2-y2=z Guidance is appreciated (: Homework...
  36. C

    Good resource on covariant/contravariant, magnetic coordinates, and jacobians?

    First post here in PF, so forgive me if this question is in the wrong place. I'm a student in computational plasma physics. The code I work with utilizes magnetic field aligned coordinates, and as a necessity, it is sometimes useful to convert between spatially regular coordinates (cartesian...
  37. N

    Determine x and y coordinates of resultant force through object

    Homework Statement The concrete slab supports the six vertical loads shown. Determine the x- and y-coordinates of the point on the slab through with the resultant of the loading system passes. Image attached Homework Equations The Attempt at a Solution I started off by...
  38. D

    Integration of a Circle in Polar Coordinates

    Homework Statement Hi, I'm trying to find the area of a circle in polar coordinates.I'm doing it this way because I have to put this into an excel sheet to have a matrix of areas of multiple circles. Here is an example of the problem. a= radius of small circle (gamma, r0) = polar coordinate...
  39. P

    Is There a Simple Explanation for the Area Element in Fermi Normal Coordinates?

    Hi everyone, Defined the Fermi Normal Coordinates (which can be seen for example http://relativity.livingreviews.org/open?pubNo=lrr-2011-7&amp;page=articlese10.html" ) is there any heuristic argument to explain why the area element is something proportional to the element of solid angle? I...
  40. J

    Help with Cartesian to Ellipsoidal Coordinates

    Homework Statement I need to isolate the expressions for ellipsoidal coordinates (see below)... I'm given: x2=\frac{(a^2+\lambda)(a^2+\mu)(a^2+\nu)}{(a^2-b^2)(a^2-c^2)} y2=\frac{(b^2+\lambda)(b^2+\mu)(b^2+\nu)}{(b^2-a^2)(b^2-c^2)}...
  41. B

    How do you calculate declination and Right Ascension from Earth Coordinates?

    Say a person is positioned here: 40.23°N and 15.89°E and was examining the night sky. How do you calculate the declination and Right Ascension from that location's coordinates? I know the RA is measured in hours up to 24 and Declination in degrees. Any ideas?
  42. D

    Area of a Circle in Polar Coordinates

    Hi, I'm trying to find the area of a segment of a circle that is not at the origin. It will look similar to this picture below but I need to find the area enclosed by a circle. Using the polar equation of a circle provided by wikipedia: and integrating to find the area of a...
  43. perplexabot

    Polar to rectangular coordinates

    Hello all. I am trying to change: E = (1/r) ar To rectangular coordinate system. Where ar is a unit vector. So I know r = √(x^2 + y^2) i also think ar = ax+ay, where ax and ay are unit vectors along the x-axis and y-axis respectively. So that would give me: E = (1/√(x^2 + y^2)) (ax...
  44. S

    Euler equation in Polar coordinates

    Hello. I have 2D Euler equation for fluids. I can't derive it in polar coordinates. I defined functions u(x,y,t) = u'(r, theta, t) and v(x,y,t) = v'(r, theta, t). I started by computing derivatives \frac{\partial u'}{\partial r}=\cos\theta\frac{\partial u}{\partial...
  45. J

    Angular momentum polar coordinates

    Homework Statement from the cartesian definition of angular momentum, derive the operator for the z component in polar coordinates L_z = -ih[x(d/dy) - y(d/dx)] to L_z = -ih(d/dθ) Homework Equations x = rcosθ y = rsinθ r^2 = x^2 + y^2 r = (x^2 + y^2)^1/2 The Attempt at...
  46. F

    Vectors and finding coordinates question

    Homework Statement On a treasure map, A = -5 (km)x + 2 (km)y, B = 4 km, and theta = 328 deg. The treasure is located at C = 4A - 3B. What is the x-coordinate of the treasure? What is the y-coordinate of the treasure? Homework Equations a^2 + b^2 = c^2 Vector addition The...
  47. S

    Hamiltonian in spherical coordinates

    Homework Statement The total energy may be given by the hamiltonian in terms of the coordinates and linear momenta in Cartesian coordinates (that is, the kinetic energy term is split into the familiar pi2/2m. When transformed to spherical coordinates, however, two terms are angular momentum...
  48. M

    Why Is 0≤z≤1 in Cylindrical Coordinates for x² + y² = 2y?

    From this equation x2 + y2 = 2y I was wondering how in the solutions manual it was decided that 0≤z≤1 ? Edit: Don't read... I was looking at a solution to a different problem
  49. S

    Conversion of energy expression from Cartesian to spherical coordinates

    A text I am reading displays the attached image. Can someone explain the general method for obtaining the velocity analogues of those terms (in parentheses) in 1.5? I know the second and third terms in parentheses in 1.6 and 1.7 are the squares of angular velocities, but can a general procedure...
  50. C

    Describe the surface in cylindrical coordinates?

    Homework Statement The surface is x^2/y*z=10. Put this into cylidrical coordinates. in the form r=f(theta,z) Homework Equations No clue The Attempt at a Solution No clue
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