Griffiths example no. 5.11 w×r switch from cartesian to spherical

In summary, the switch from Cartesian coordinates to spherical polar coordinates is not necessary but can be useful in simplifying calculations and visualizing solutions. The standard transformations from Cartesian to spherical polar coordinates can be used to derive the relationship between the components of a vector in both systems. This switch is often done in the example of a rotating shell in Griffiths Electrodynamics, to manipulate and visualize the solution more easily. Other books may choose to solve this problem without making the switch.
  • #1
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I am pretty much satisfied with the example of a rotating shell example 5.11 pg 367 griffiths electrodynamics.on many ocassions he chooses cartesian coordinates before integration (see 5.10 too) , integrates and finds w×r along y direction .then he manipulates w×r, and writes it down in spherical polar along phi cap or the azimuth.
MY QUESTION IS IT REALLY NECESSARY TO MAKE THIS SWITCH? HOW DOES IT SERVE THE PURPOSE OF FURTHER CALCULATION? A lot of books which solved this problem avoided this switch.BESIDES HOW IS HE DOING THIS SWITCH? CAN ANYBODY GIVE ME ANY REFERENCE OF AN EXAMPLE WHERE IT IS SHOWN THAT -ωsinψy in cartesian when changed to spherical system becomes ωrsinθ∅
 
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?It is not necessary to make the switch from Cartesian coordinates to spherical polar coordinates in order to solve the rotating shell example 5.11 in Griffiths Electrodynamics. The switch is often made in order to simplify the calculations and make the solution easier to visualize. The switch from Cartesian coordinates to spherical polar coordinates can be done using the standard transformations, which are given by: x = rsinθcosΦy = rsinθsinΦz = rcosθWhere x, y, and z are the Cartesian coordinates and r, θ, and Φ are the spherical polar coordinates. For example, if one has a vector in Cartesian coordinates of the form ω = (0, ωsinψ, 0)the same vector can be written in spherical polar coordinates asω = (0, ωrsinθcosΦ, 0)By substituting the standard transformations into the expression for the vector, it is possible to derive the relationship between the Cartesian and spherical polar components of the vector. Hope this helps!
 

Related to Griffiths example no. 5.11 w×r switch from cartesian to spherical

1. What is Griffith's example no. 5.11 w×r switch from cartesian to spherical?

Griffith's example no. 5.11 w×r switch from cartesian to spherical is a theoretical example used in electromagnetism to illustrate the transformation of vector components from cartesian coordinates (x, y, z) to spherical coordinates (r, θ, φ).

2. Why is it important to understand this transformation?

Understanding this transformation is important because it allows us to work with vector quantities in different coordinate systems, which can be useful in solving complex problems in electromagnetism and other fields of science.

3. What are the main differences between cartesian and spherical coordinates?

The main difference between cartesian and spherical coordinates is the way they describe the position of a point in space. Cartesian coordinates use three perpendicular axes (x, y, z) to specify the position, while spherical coordinates use the distance from the origin (r), the angle from the z-axis (θ), and the angle from the x-axis (φ).

4. How is the transformation between cartesian and spherical coordinates calculated?

The transformation between cartesian and spherical coordinates can be calculated using a set of equations that relate the vector components in each system. These equations can be found in most textbooks on vector calculus and electromagnetism.

5. Are there any real-world applications of this transformation?

Yes, there are many real-world applications of this transformation, particularly in fields where spherical symmetry is present, such as astronomy and geophysics. It is also used in computer graphics to convert between different coordinate systems for rendering 3D objects.

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