16.07 Dynamics Fall 2004 Version 1.2 Lecture D5-Other Coordinates Systems In this lecture we will look at some other common systems of coordinates. We will present polar coordinates in two dimensions and cylindrical and spherical coordinates in three dimensions. We shall see that these systems re particularly useful for certain classes of problems. Like in the case of intrinsic coordinates presented in the previous lecture, the reference frame changes from point to point. However, for the coordinate system to be presented below, the reference frame depends only on the position of the particle. This is in contrast with the intrinsic coordinates, where the reference frame is a function of the position, as well as the path Polar Coordinates(r-8 In polar coordinates, the position of a particle A, is determined by the value of the radial distance to the origin, r, and the angle that the radial line makes with an arbitrary fixed line, such as the a axis. Thus, the trajectory of a particle will be determined if we know r and 8 as a function of t, i.e. r(t), e(t). The directions of increasing r and 6 are defined by the orthogonal unit vectors er and eg The position vector of a particle has a magnitude equal to the radial distance, and a direction determined by er. Thus rer Since the vectors er and ee are clearly different from point to point, their variation will have to be considered when calculating the velocity and acceleration Over an infinitesimal interval of time dt, the coordinates of point A will change from(r, 0), to(r+dr, 8+de) shown in the di
J. Peraire 16.07 Dynamics Fall 2004 Version 1.2 Lecture D5 - Other Coordinates Systems In this lecture we will look at some other common systems of coordinates. We will present polar coordinates in two dimensions and cylindrical and spherical coordinates in three dimensions. We shall see that these systems are particularly useful for certain classes of problems. Like in the case of intrinsic coordinates presented in the previous lecture, the reference frame changes from point to point. However, for the coordinate systems to be presented below, the reference frame depends only on the position of the particle. This is in contrast with the intrinsic coordinates, where the reference frame is a function of the position, as well as the path. Polar Coordinates (r − θ) In polar coordinates, the position of a particle A, is determined by the value of the radial distance to the origin, r, and the angle that the radial line makes with an arbitrary fixed line, such as the x axis. Thus, the trajectory of a particle will be determined if we know r and θ as a function of t, i.e. r(t), θ(t). The directions of increasing r and θ are defined by the orthogonal unit vectors er and eθ. The position vector of a particle has a magnitude equal to the radial distance, and a direction determined by er. Thus, r = rer . (1) Since the vectors er and eθ are clearly different from point to point, their variation will have to be considered when calculating the velocity and acceleration. Over an infinitesimal interval of time dt, the coordinates of point A will change from (r, θ), to (r+dr, θ+dθ) as shown in the diagram. 1
+der We note that the vectors er and ee do not change when the coordinate r changes. Thus, der dr=0 and dee/dr=0. On the other hand, when 0 changes to 0+de, the vectors er and eg are rotated by an angle de. From the diagram, we see that der deee, and that deg =-dBer. This is because their magnitudes in the limit are equal to the unit vector as radius times de in radians. Dividing through by de, we have, d Multiplying these expressions by de/dt= 0, we obtain, der de de d Note Alternative calculation of the unit vector derivatives An alternative, more mathematical, approach to obtaining the derivatives of the unit vectors is to expres er and ee in terms of their cartesian components along i and 3. We have that sin Bi+cos 8j Therefore, when we differentiate we obtain, sin6i+cos6j≡ 67≡-e Velocity vector We can now derive expression(1)with respect to time and write or, using expression(2), we have re
We note that the vectors er and eθ do not change when the coordinate r changes. Thus, der/dr = 0 and deθ/dr = 0. On the other hand, when θ changes to θ + dθ, the vectors er and eθ are rotated by an angle dθ. From the diagram, we see that der = dθeθ, and that deθ = −dθer. This is because their magnitudes in the limit are equal to the unit vector as radius times dθ in radians. Dividing through by dθ, we have, der dθ = eθ, and deθ dθ = −er . Multiplying these expressions by dθ/dt ≡ ˙θ, we obtain, der dθ dθ dt ≡ der dt = ˙θeθ, and deθ dt = − ˙θer . (2) Note Alternative calculation of the unit vector derivatives An alternative, more mathematical, approach to obtaining the derivatives of the unit vectors is to express er and eθ in terms of their cartesian components along i and j. We have that er = cos θi + sin θj eθ = − sin θi + cos θj . Therefore, when we differentiate we obtain, der dr = 0, der dθ = − sin θi + cos θj ≡ eθ deθ dr = 0, deθ dθ = − cos θi − sin θj ≡ −er . Velocity vector We can now derive expression (1) with respect to time and write v = r˙ = ˙r er + r e˙ r , or, using expression (2), we have v = ˙r er + r ˙θ eθ . (3) 2
Here, Ur r is the radial velocity component, and ve = re is the circumferential velocity component. We lso have that u=vu+vg. The radial component is the rate at which r changes magnitude, or stretches, and the circumferential component, is the rate at which r changes direction, or swings. Acceleration vector Differentiating again with respect to time, we obtain the acceleration a=v=rer+rer+reee+ree+reeg e express 2), we obtain (F-rb2)er+(r6+2i0) ee. G-r02)is the radial acceleration component, and ag =(r0+2r0)is the circumferential acceleration component. Also, we have that a + Change of b In many practical situations, it will be necessary to transform the vectors expressed in polar coordinates to cartesian coordinates and vice versa 6 Since we are dealing with free vectors, we can translate the polar reference frame for a given point (r, 0), te the origin, and apply a standard change of basis procedure. This will give, for a generic vector A a cos 6 sin e A A sine cos 0)( Ae Example Circular motion Consider as an illustration, the motion of a particle in a circular trajectory having angular velocity w=8 and angular acceleration a= w. We see that, for this problem, the circumferential and radial directions are very similar to the intrinsic tangential and normal directions. The only difference is that in polar coordinates the radial direction points outwards, whereas, in intrinsic coordinates, the normal direction always points towards the center of curvature o
Here, vr = ˙r is the radial velocity component, and vθ = r ˙θ is the circumferential velocity component. We also have that v = p v 2 r + v 2 θ . The radial component is the rate at which r changes magnitude, or stretches, and the circumferential component, is the rate at which r changes direction, or swings. Acceleration vector Differentiating again with respect to time, we obtain the acceleration a = v˙ = ¨r er + ˙r e˙ r + ˙r ˙θ eθ + r ¨θ eθ + r ˙θ e˙ θ Using the expressions (2), we obtain, a = (¨r − r ˙θ 2 ) er + (r ¨θ + 2 ˙r ˙θ) eθ , (4) where ar = (¨r − r ˙θ 2 ) is the radial acceleration component, and aθ = (r ¨θ + 2 ˙r ˙θ) is the circumferential acceleration component. Also, we have that a = p a 2 r + a 2 θ . Change of basis In many practical situations, it will be necessary to transform the vectors expressed in polar coordinates to cartesian coordinates and vice versa. Since we are dealing with free vectors, we can translate the polar reference frame for a given point (r, θ), to the origin, and apply a standard change of basis procedure. This will give, for a generic vector A, Ar Aθ = cos θ sin θ − sin θ cos θ Ax Ay and Ax Ay = cos θ − sin θ sin θ cos θ Ar Aθ . Example Circular motion Consider as an illustration, the motion of a particle in a circular trajectory having angular velocity ω = ˙θ, and angular acceleration α = ˙ω. We see that, for this problem, the circumferential and radial directions are very similar to the intrinsic tangential and normal directions. The only difference is that in polar coordinates, the radial direction points outwards, whereas, in intrinsic coordinates, the normal direction always points towards the center of curvature O. 3
In polar coordinates, the equation of the trajectory is r=R= constant A=wt+-a The velocity components are and re= R(w +at=v celeration compo are. R(w+at) +2r=R here we clearly see that,ar≡-an, and that a≡at In cartesian coordinates, we have for the trajectory, I= Rcos(wt +at), z= Rsin(wt +at) For the velocit Ur=-R(w+ at)sin(wt+ =at), R(w +at)cos(wt and. for the acceleration ax=-R(u+at)2cos(ut+at2)-Rasin(ut+at2),ay=-R(u+at)2sin(at+at2)+Racos(ut+at2) We observe that, for this problem, the result is much simpler when expressed in polar(or intrinsic) coordi- Example Motion on a straight line Here we consider the problem of a particle moving with constant velocity vo, along a horizontal line y= yo
In polar coordinates, the equation of the trajectory is r = R = constant, θ = ωt + 1 2 αt2 . The velocity components are vr = ˙r = 0, and vθ = r ˙θ = R(ω + αt) = v , and the acceleration components are, ar = ¨r − r ˙θ 2 = −R(ω + αt) 2 = − v 2 R , and aθ = r ¨θ + 2 ˙r ˙θ = Rα = at , where we clearly see that, ar ≡ −an, and that aθ ≡ at. In cartesian coordinates, we have for the trajectory, x = R cos(ωt + 1 2 αt2 ), x = R sin(ωt + 1 2 αt2 ) . For the velocity, vx = −R(ω + αt) sin(ωt + 1 2 αt2 ), vy = R(ω + αt) cos(ωt + 1 2 αt2 ) , and, for the acceleration, ax = −R(ω+αt) 2 cos(ωt+ 1 2 αt2 )−Rα sin(ωt+ 1 2 αt2 ), ay = −R(ω+αt) 2 sin(ωt+ 1 2 αt2 )+Rα cos(ωt+ 1 2 αt2 ) . We observe that, for this problem, the result is much simpler when expressed in polar (or intrinsic) coordinates. Example Motion on a straight line Here we consider the problem of a particle moving with constant velocity v0, along a horizontal line y = y0. 4
Assuming that at t=0 the particle is at 0, the trajectory and velocity components in cartesian coordinates are simply, Note that, for this problem, cartesian and intrinsic coordinates are virtually identical (for a straight line the ormal direction is not defined, in which case we can arbitrarily choose any direction perpendicular to the tangent direction). In polar coordinates, on the other hand, we have v2+ 0= tan rH=-vo sin 8 ae=r+20=0 Here, we see that the expressions obtained in cartesian coordinates are simpler than those obtained using lar coordinates Example Spiral motion(Kelppner/Kolenkow) A particle moves with 0=w= constant and r= Toest, where ro and B are constants y
Assuming that at t = 0 the particle is at x = 0, the trajectory and velocity components in cartesian coordinates are simply, x = v0t y = y0 vx = v0 vy = 0 ax = 0 ay = 0 . Note that, for this problem, cartesian and intrinsic coordinates are virtually identical (for a straight line the normal direction is not defined, in which case we can arbitrarily choose any direction perpendicular to the tangent direction). In polar coordinates, on the other hand, we have, r = q v 2 0 t 2 + y 2 0 θ = tan−1 ( y0 v0t ) vr = ˙r = v0 cos θ vθ = r ˙θ = −v0 sin θ ar = ¨r − r ˙θ 2 = 0 aθ = r ¨θ + 2 ˙r ˙θ = 0 . Here, we see that the expressions obtained in cartesian coordinates are simpler than those obtained using polar coordinates. Example Spiral motion (Kelppner/Kolenkow) A particle moves with ˙θ = ω = constant and r = r0e βt, where r0 and β are constants. 5