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Assignment1 2240321

The document discusses various coordinate systems including polar, spherical polar, hyperbolic, elliptical, toroidal, and cylindrical coordinates, detailing their definitions, applications, and examples. Each coordinate system is explained in terms of its mathematical representation and its relevance in fields such as physics, engineering, and astronomy. The document serves as an overview of how these systems can be utilized to describe different geometric and physical phenomena.

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22 views3 pages

Assignment1 2240321

The document discusses various coordinate systems including polar, spherical polar, hyperbolic, elliptical, toroidal, and cylindrical coordinates, detailing their definitions, applications, and examples. Each coordinate system is explained in terms of its mathematical representation and its relevance in fields such as physics, engineering, and astronomy. The document serves as an overview of how these systems can be utilized to describe different geometric and physical phenomena.

Uploaded by

ranjithplaygames
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Assignment 1

Roll Number: 2240321

Coordinate Systems
i. Polar Coordinates
Polar coordinates represent points in a plane using a radial distance r from the origin
and an angle θ measured counterclockwise from a reference direction (usually the positive
x-axis). The Cartesian coordinates (x, y) can be converted to polar coordinates using:
p y
r = x2 + y 2 , θ = tan−1 .
x
Conversely, polar coordinates can be converted to Cartesian coordinates as:

x = r cos θ, y = r sin θ.

Applications:

1. Used to describe circular or rotational motion.

2. Useful in designing systems involving radar, sonar, and other circular domains.

Examples:

1. The point (r, θ) = (5, π/4) is 5 units away from the origin and at an angle of 45◦
from the positive x-axis.

2. The curve r = 2 sin θ represents a circle of radius 1 centered at (0, 1).

ii. Spherical Polar Coordinates


Spherical polar coordinates specify a point in 3D space using:

• r: Radial distance from the origin.

• θ: Polar angle (angle between the radial vector and the positive z-axis).

• ϕ: Azimuthal angle (angle in the xy-plane measured from the positive x-axis).

The Cartesian coordinates (x, y, z) can be related to spherical coordinates by:

x = r sin θ cos ϕ, y = r sin θ sin ϕ, z = r cos θ.

Applications:

1
1. Used in physics to analyze problems with spherical symmetry, such as gravitational
fields, electric fields, or atomic orbitals.

2. Important in astronomy for locating celestial bodies.

Examples:

1. The point (r, θ, ϕ) = (3, π/3, π/6) lies at a radial distance of 3, with polar angle 60◦
and azimuthal angle 30◦ .

2. The equation r = 4 cos θ represents a sphere with a radius of 4 units.

iii. Hyperbolic Coordinates


Hyperbolic coordinates are two-dimensional coordinates (u, v) based on hyperbolas and
lines. They are defined by:

x = a cosh u cos v, y = a sinh u sin v,

where a is a scaling constant. The curves u = constant and v = constant correspond to


hyperbolas and straight lines, respectively.
Applications:

1. Useful in modeling hyperbolic motion and wave propagation.

2. Applied in special relativity to describe spacetime intervals.

Examples:

x2 − y 2 and v = tanh−1 (y/x) form the basis of


p
1. The hyperbolas defined by u =
hyperbolic coordinates.

2. The transformation x = a cosh u cos v, y = a sinh u sin v can describe a hyperbolic


paraboloid.

iv. Elliptical Coordinates


Elliptical coordinates are two-dimensional orthogonal coordinates (u, v) where:

x = f cosh u cos v, y = f sinh u sin v,

with f being the focal distance. Here, u = constant represents a family of ellipses, and
v = constant represents hyperbolas.
Applications:

1. Used in problems with elliptical symmetry, such as in Keplerian orbits.

2. Applied in engineering to model stress distribution in elliptical geometries.

Examples:

1. For x = f cosh u cos v, y = f sinh u sin v, u = constant describes ellipses.

2. The equation u = 1 corresponds to an ellipse with foci at (±f, 0).

2
v. Toroidal Coordinates
Toroidal coordinates are used in 3D to describe points around a torus. They are defined
as:
a sinh η cos ϕ a sinh η sin ϕ a sin ξ
x= , y= , z= .
cosh η − cos ξ cosh η − cos ξ cosh η − cos ξ
Applications:

1. Used in plasma physics to model magnetic confinement in tokamaks.

2. Applied in electromagnetic wave analysis around toroidal structures.

Examples:

1. The surface η = constant represents a torus with specific dimensions.

2. Toroidal coordinates are used to model circular solenoids in electromagnetism.

vi. Cylindrical Coordinates


Cylindrical coordinates extend polar coordinates to 3D by adding a vertical coordinate
z. They are defined by:

x = r cos ϕ, y = r sin ϕ, z = z,

where r is the radial distance, ϕ is the azimuthal angle, and z is the height.
Applications:

1. Used to describe problems with cylindrical symmetry, such as fluid flow in pipes or
electric fields around a wire.

2. Common in 3D modeling of buildings or cylindrical structures.

Examples:

1. The point (r, ϕ, z) = (4, π/3, 5) is 4 units from the z-axis, at an angle of 60◦ from
the x-axis, and at a height of 5 units.

2. The equation r = 2 describes a vertical cylinder of radius 2.

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