Spherical Coordinates of a Point with Rectangular Coordinates

In summary, the conversation is about finding the spherical coordinates of a point with given rectangular coordinates. The solution involves using formulas for spherical coordinates and understanding the relationships between the coordinates. The textbook provides the answer as (8, -pi/4, 5pi/6) and the conversation discusses the use of these formulas to arrive at the solution.
  • #1
xzibition8612
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Homework Statement



Find the spherical coordinates of the point with rectangular coordinates (2√2, -2√2, -4√3)

Homework Equations



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The Attempt at a Solution



The textbook gives the answer as (8, -pi/4, 5pi/6)
No idea how to get to this. Any help appreciated.
 
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  • #2
so you need to find [tex]\rho[/tex] [tex]\theta[/tex] and [tex]\varphi[/tex] and you are given (x,y,z) so we know [tex]\rho[/tex]2 = x^2 + y^2 +z^2 and you get [tex]\theta[/tex] from thinking of the graph on the xyz plane and [tex]\theta[/tex] runs on the xy plan and -2[tex]\sqrt{2}[/tex] is from SOH CAH TOA and realizing its just negative 45 degrees ie 45 ([tex]\pi[/tex]/180) =??
 
  • #3
Here's the set of formulas that define the transformation:

cc4827cadf644c993f17fecf676907e8.png


Note that in the textbook answer the angles have been exchanged.
For the proper set of formulas you should have defined how the polar coordinates have been defined in your textbook. Is expect that your textbook will mention a similar set of formulas.
 

Related to Spherical Coordinates of a Point with Rectangular Coordinates

What are spherical coordinates?

Spherical coordinates are a coordinate system used to locate points in three-dimensional space. They use two angles and a distance from the origin to define a point.

What are the components of spherical coordinates?

The components of spherical coordinates are the radius (r), inclination angle (θ), and azimuth angle (φ).

How are spherical coordinates different from Cartesian coordinates?

Spherical coordinates use angles and a distance from the origin, while Cartesian coordinates use x, y, and z coordinates to locate a point in three-dimensional space.

What are the advantages of using spherical coordinates?

Spherical coordinates are particularly useful for describing points on a sphere or other curved surfaces, as well as for solving certain types of physical problems involving spherical symmetry.

What are some common applications of spherical coordinates?

Spherical coordinates are often used in physics, astronomy, and engineering for solving problems involving spherical objects, such as planets, stars, and satellites. They are also used in navigation and GPS systems to locate points on the Earth's surface.

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