Scribd
Upload
66 views3 pages

1.4 Cartesian Coordinate System: I J K X y Z

1. The document describes the Cartesian coordinate system for locating points in space using perpendicular x, y, and z axes. 2. In Cartesian coordinates, a point P(x,y,z) is represented by the position vector r, which is the sum of its x, y, and z components along each axis unit vector. 3. Equations are provided to calculate the magnitude of any vector r or A in Cartesian coordinates from the sums of its squared x, y, and z components, extending Pythagoras' theorem to three dimensions.

Uploaded by

John Wanyoike Makau
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
66 views3 pages

1.4 Cartesian Coordinate System: I J K X y Z

1. The document describes the Cartesian coordinate system for locating points in space using perpendicular x, y, and z axes. 2. In Cartesian coordinates, a point P(x,y,z) is represented by the position vector r, which is the sum of its x, y, and z components along each axis unit vector. 3. Equations are provided to calculate the magnitude of any vector r or A in Cartesian coordinates from the sums of its squared x, y, and z components, extending Pythagoras' theorem to three dimensions.

Uploaded by

John Wanyoike Makau
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 3

1.

4 Cartesian Coordinate System



A coordinate system is a means of locating the position of a point in space.

In the Cartesian coordinate system, the position vector r of a point is specified in terms of
the unit vectors i

, j

, and k

which point along the x , y , and z axis respectively.




The unit vectors are mutually perpendicular and the position vector for point z y x P , , is
given by

z k y j x i

r (13)

The magnitude of r is obtained by help of equation (7) thus

r r r (14)

But using equation (13)

z k y j x i z k y j x i

r r

xz k i xy j i x i i

2
r r

yz k j y j j yx i j

2



2

z k k zy j k zx i k (15)

Using

1

k k j j i i (16)

0 ...

k j k i j i (17)

we have

2 2 2
z y x r r

and from equation (14)

2 2 2
z y x r (18)

Equation (18) is an extension of the Pythagoras theorem to three dimensions.

In general any vector A may be expressed in the Cartesian coordinate system as

z y x
A k A j A i

A (19)

where
y x
A A , and
z
A are the components of Aalong the x , y , and z axis respectively.

The magnitude of A is given by

2 2 2
z y x
A A A A A A A (20)

The sum of the vectors AandB is given by

z y x
A k A j A i

B A

z y x
B k B j B i




z z y y x x
B A k B A j B A i

(21)


The dot product of the two vectors in the Cartesian system is


z y x z y x
B k B j B i A k A j A i

B A

z z y y x x
B A B A B A B A (22)

where we have again applied equations (16) and (17).

The cross product is given by


z y x z y x
B k B j B i A k A j A i

B A

z x y x x x
B A k i B A j i B A i i

B A

z y y y x y
B A k j B A j j B A i j


z z y z x z
B A k k B A j k B A i k

(23)

using

0

k k j j i i (24)

and

k j i

k i j

(25a)
i k j

i j k

(25b)
j i k

j k i

(25c)

we have

y z x z z y x y z x y x
B A i B A j B A i B A k B A j B A k

B A

or



x y y x z x x z y z z y
B A B A k B A B A j B A B A i

B A (26)

Equations (26) may be written compactly in terms of determinants of second order

y x
y x
x z
x z
z y
z y
B B
A A
k
B B
A A
j
B B
A A
i

B A (27)

or in terms of a determinant of third order

z y x
z y x
B B B
A A A
k j i

B A (28)

You might also like