Curvilinear Definition and 77 Threads

  1. chwala

    I Cylindrical coordinates -Curvilinear

    Why are the coordinates seemingly used when the symmetry is around ##z## axis? Any particular reason why not ##x## or ##y##. In transforming from Cartesian to cylindrical form; I can see that ##z## is not considered when determining ##r##. Can we also use ##x## and ##z## assuming that the...
  2. K

    Curvilinear coordinate system: Determine the standardized base vectors

    How I would have guessed you were supposed to solve it: What you are supposed to do is just take the gradients of all the u:s and divide by the absolute value of the gradient? But what formula is that why is the way I did not the correct way to do it? Thanks in advance!
  3. Like Tony Stark

    Difference between curvilinear and rotational motion

    The solution states that there's no rotational motion when ##C## is cut (the motion is curvilinear), so we can take torques with respect to the centre of mass of the plate. But, isn't it rotating? I think of it as a pendulum, which describes a circular motion. What's the difference? Wouldn't the...
  4. CPW

    Curvilinear.... isn't that a strange word?

    Hi PF. I'm over ten years out from graduate school in physics, and I still enjoy re-reading my textbooks. I came across the word curvilinear, and thought how strange a word it is; a juxtaposition of curved and linear, which are at times understood to be opposites. The textbook was describing...
  5. Z

    A How Do You Determine the Mapping Functions in a Curvilinear Coordinate System?

    Hello, the physical domain in the (y, z) space is mapped to a rectangular computational region in the (ŋ,Ƹ)-space, where (ŋ,Ƹ) are the new coordinates. This technique frees the computational simulation from geometry restriction. after transforming the governing equations ( PDEs) to the...
  6. Sian R

    Curvilinear Dynamics and forces

    Homework Statement A wedge with face inclined at an angle θ to the horizontal is fixed to a rotating turntable. A block of mass m rests on the inclined plane and the coefficient of static friction between the block and the wedge is µ. The block is to remain at position R from the centre of...
  7. S

    What is the Velocity of a Rotating Weight?

    Homework Statement A weight is suspended from a spring 50 cm long and stretches it by 1 cm. Take the other end of the spring in your hand and rotate the weight in a horizontal plane so that the spring is stretched by 10 cm. What is the velocity of the weight? (The force with which the stretched...
  8. C

    I Force fields in curvilinear coordinate systems

    I am trying to solve problems where I calculate work do to force along paths in cylindrical and spherical coordinates. I can do almost by rote the problems in Cartesian: given a force ##\vec{F} = f(x,y,z)\hat{x} + g(x,y,z)\hat{y}+ h(x,y,z)\hat{z}## I can parametricize my some curve ##\gamma...
  9. F

    I Examples of Non-Orthogonal Curvilinear Coordinates

    I am beginning to study the mathematics of curvilinear coordinates and all textbooks and web sites do not have realistic examples of non-othogonal systems. What are some examples of non-orthoganal curvilinear coordinates so that I can practice on actual systems rather than generalized examples...
  10. Robin04

    Differential operators in 2D curvilinear coordinates

    Homework Statement I’m studying orthogonal curvilinear coordinates and practice calculating differential operators. However, I’ve run across an exercise where the coordinate system is only in 2D and I’m confused about how to proceed with the calculations. Homework Equations A point in the...
  11. F

    I Demo of cosine direction with curvilinear coordinates

    1) Firstly, in the context of a dot product with Einstein notation : $$\text{d}(\vec{V}\cdot\vec{n} )=\text{d}(v_{i}\dfrac{\text{d}y^{i}}{\text{d}s})$$ with ##\vec{n}## representing the cosine directions vectors, ##v_{i}## the covariant components of ##\vec{V}## vector, ##y^{i}## the...
  12. Z

    Finding the acceleration in a curvilinear motion (n-t)

    Homework Statement The mine skip is being hauled to the surface over the curved track by the cable wound around the 38-in. drum, which turns at the constant clockwise speed of 96 rev/min. The shape of the track is designed so that y = x2/28, where x and y are in feet. Calculate the magnitude of...
  13. S

    Cartesian to curvilinear coordinate transformations

    Homework Statement Is there a more intuitive way of thinking or calculating the transformation between coordinates of a field or any given vector? The E&M book I'm using right now likes to use the vector field ## \vec F\ = \frac {\vec x} {r^3} ## where r is the magnitude of ## \vec x...
  14. davidge

    I Gravitation vs Curvilinear Coordinates: Analysis of Weinberg's Book

    In Weinberg's book, it is said that a given metric ##g_{\mu \nu}## could be describing a true gravitational field or can be just the metric ##\eta_{\alpha \beta}## of special relativity written in curvilinear coordinates. Then it is said that in the latter case, there will be a set of...
  15. EastWindBreaks

    Normal force in a curvilnear motion

    Homework Statement The system shown is initially at rest when the bent bar starts to rotate about the vertical axis AB with constant angular acceleration a 0 = 3 rad/ s2 . The coefficient of static friction between the collar of mass m = 2 kg and the bent bar is f.Ls = 0.35, and the collar is...
  16. T

    I Question About Curvilinear Cooridnates

    Hi guys, i can not understand something about curvilnear coordinates...from a "geometric" point of view what dose the componentes of the vector mean? in a non-curvilinear coordinates the components are the "projections" on along the bases but in a curvilinear coordinates the directions of the...
  17. D

    Momentum density in curvilinear coordinates

    Hi, In an article on theoretical fluid dynamics I recently came across the following equation: $$M_i = \sqrt{g} \rho v_i$$ where ##M_i## denotes momentum density, ##v_i## velocity, ##\rho## the mass density and g is the determinant of the metric tensor. It is probably quite obvious, but I do...
  18. N

    MHB Solving Curvilinear Motion: Find Velocity at t=3s

    The acceleration function of an object doing curvilinear motion is a = {(-0.2t)i+2j+1.5k} m/s^2, where t is in s. If its initial velocity v0 = 8i m/s, and initial position is at the origin, determine the magnitude of its velocity when t=3 s. Badly need your help guys. Thanks! All I see is ax...
  19. Auburn2017

    Curvilinear Motion with nonconstant acceleration

    Homework Statement Please refer to both figures. One has a picture and the other is the actual problem. Ignore the pencil writing on the figure as it was for a separate problem. Homework Equations aB+aA/B=aA vB+vA/B=vA an=v2rThe Attempt at a Solution I am actually really at a lost at the...
  20. mertcan

    I Curved space and curvilinear coordinates

    hi, I really wonder what the difference between curvilinear coordinates in a Euclidean space and embedding a curved space into Euclidean space is ? They resemble to each other for me, so Could you explain or spell out the difference? Thanks in advance...
  21. G

    Curvilinear integral along a line segment

    1. Homework Statement Calculate the curvilinear integral ∫C (x2 + y2)ds where C is the line segment [0,0] → [3,4]. Then calculate the maximum M of x2 + y2 along the segment and verify that the inequality ∫C (x2 + y2)ds ≤ M*length(C) holds. Homework Equations ds = (x'(t)2 + y'(t)2)½dt ∇f(x,y)...
  22. A

    Curvilinear Motion: Polar Coordinates (Engineering Dynamics)

    Homework Statement Homework EquationsThe Attempt at a Solution I have stared at this for hours and don't know where to start. I think I need to get r in terms of t but I don't really know how with the information given. I just need a good hint to get started.
  23. I

    Gradient and curvilinear coordinates

    Homework Statement Show that ##\nabla u_i \cdot \frac{\partial \vec r}{\partial u_i} = \delta_{ij}##. (##u_i## is assumed to be a generalized coordinate.) Homework Equations Gradient in curvilinear coordinates ##\nabla \phi = \sum_{i=1}^3 \vec e_i \frac{1}{h_i} \frac{\partial \phi}{\partial...
  24. Jonski

    How Can the Acceleration of a Crate on a Truck Be Determined?

    Homework Statement At the instant shown, the driver of the truck has just pressed the accelerator pedal down and the truck has suddenly acquired a tangential acceleration of 2.2m/s^2. Coefficient of static friction between crate and tray = 0.4 Coefficient of kinetic friction between crate and...
  25. K

    Curvilinear coordinate, derivative

    https://www.particleincell.com/2012/curvilinear-coordinates/ http://www.jfoadi.me.uk/documents/lecture_mathphys2_05.pdf Hi, I have a question about the curvilineare coordinate system. I wonder why is normal to the isosurfaces?isnt ei a tangent vector to the surface ui since "With these...
  26. manongistong

    Solving Curvilinear Motion Problem - Physics Forums

    Same with problem https://www.physicsforums.com/threads/trigonometric-problem.76696/ . My problems here is I cannot came up with the same answers in the book. I didn't solve using vectors. Homework Equations I would like to know the equation on the 4th hint although I have different solution...
  27. manongistong

    Solve Trigonometric Problem for Dynamics: 4th Hint Equation

    This problem is same as the problem on this link https://www.physicsforums.com/threads/trigonometric-problem.76696/ . I would like to ask the number 4 hint which is "4) We therefore have, for example the equality: " the equations can't be seen on my pc as it will only outputs this...
  28. S

    Orthogonality of a curvilinear coordinate system

    Homework Statement Show that the uvw-system is orthogonal. r, \theta, \varphi are spherical coordinates. $$u=r(1-\cos\theta)$$ $$v=r(1+\cos\theta)$$ $$w=\varphi$$ The Attempt at a Solution So basically I want to show that the scalar products between \frac{\partial \vec{r}}{\partial u}...
  29. D

    General relativity and curvilinear coordinates

    I have just been asked why we use curvilinear coordinate systems in general relativity. I replied that, from a heuristic point of view, space and time are relative, such that the way in which you measure them is dependent on the reference frame that you observe them in. This implies that...
  30. F

    Curvilinear motion of force-couple system

    I have a system of forces which I have reduced to a force-couple system. I am trying to predict the motion of the force and couple. This is hard because the force changes direction as the moment turns the particle. I imagine this should be turned into some sort of tangential-normal components...
  31. ShayanJ

    Momentum operator in curvilinear coordinates

    This paper is about momentum operator in curvilinear coordinates. The author says that using \vec p=\frac{\hbar}{i} \vec \nabla is wrong and this form is only limited to Cartesian coordinates. Then he tries to find expressions for momentum operator in curvilinear coordinates. He's starting...
  32. A

    Curvilinear basis in spherical polar coordinates

    Homework Statement As a part of my self study I am trying to find the covariant basis vectors in the spherical polar coordinates. Since I have never done anything like this before I would appreciate if someone could tell me whether I am on the rigth track. Homework Equations...
  33. J

    Position vector in curvilinear coordinates

    The position vector ##\vec{r}## in cartesian coordinates is: ##\vec{r} = x \hat{x} + y \hat{y}##, in polar coordinates is: ##\vec{r} = r \hat{r}##. But, given a curve s in somewhere of plane, with tangent unit vector ##\hat{t}## and normal unit vector ##\hat{n}## along of s, exist a definition...
  34. J

    R, dr and d²r and curvilinear coordinates

    Hellow everybody! If ##d\vec{r}## can be written in terms of curvilinear coordinates as ##d\vec{r} = h_1 dq_1 \hat{q_1} + h_2 dq_2 \hat{q_2} + h_2 dq_2 \hat{q_2}## so, how is the vectors ##d^2\vec{r}## and ##\vec{r}## in terms of curvilinear coordinates? Thanks!
  35. heycoa

    Mechanics, Tangential force and potential of a curvilinear path

    Homework Statement a) Prove that m (d^2s/dt^2) = Ftang, the tangential component of the net force on the bead. [hint] one way to do this is to take the time derivative of the equation v^2=v(dot)v. The left side should lead you to (d^2s/dt^2), and the right side should lead to Ftang. b)...
  36. mnb96

    Inner product in curvilinear coordinates

    Hello, let's assume we have an admissible change of coordinates \phi:U\rightarrow \mathbb{R}^n. I would like to know how the inner product on ℝn changes under this transformation. In other words, what is \left\langle \phi (u), \phi (v) \right\rangle for some u,v \in U ? I thought that...
  37. ShayanJ

    Vectors in curvilinear coordinate systems

    To specify a vector in cartesian coordinate systems,we assume its tail to be at the origin and give the cartesian coordinates of its head.What about other coordinate systems? For example,in spherical coordinates,is the following correct? a \hat{x}+b \hat{y}+c \hat{z}=\sqrt{a^2+b^2+c^2}...
  38. A

    Curvilinear Motion: Rectangular Components

    Homework Statement What is the magnitude of the velocity at t=4.00s? I would like to see if my approach and answer is correct. Homework Equations Position: r = {-30cos(\frac{\pi}{10}t) i + 30sin(\frac{\pi}{10}t) j - (7t) k} ft The Attempt at a Solution I took the first...
  39. K

    Curvilinear n&t motion question engineering mechanics

    Homework Statement A pin is constrained to move in a circular slot of radius 39mm. At the same time a slotted bar also constrains the pin to move down with constant velocity 8mm/s. (as shown in attached diagram). What is the magnitude of the acceleration of the pin for the position...
  40. N

    Electromagnetic Field Tensor in Curvilinear Coordinates

    How to express electromagnetic field tensor in curvilinear coordinates, that is given a curvilinear coordinates (t,\alpha,\beta,\gamma) with metric tensor as follows: n_{\mu \nu }= \left[ \begin{array}{cccc}h_0^2& 0 & 0 & 0 \\ 0 & -h_1^2 & 0 & 0 \\ 0 & 0 & -h_2^2 & 0 \\ 0 & 0 & 0 & -h_3^2...
  41. C

    Angular Velocity in Curvilinear Translation?

    HI there. Some days ago, whyle studying vector mechanics I came across with a rather dazzling doubt. Why isn't there angular velocity and accelaration in a curvilinear translation? Imagine, a small planet in a perfect circular orbit around a star. Let's say, the planet has no form of...
  42. I

    Finding the x range using curvilinear motion

    Homework Statement The car passes point A with a speed of 25 m/s after which its speed is defined by V = (25-0.15s)m/s. Determine the magnitude of the car's acceleration when it reaches point B, where S = 51.5 m. (the max height of the hill is 16 m, and the function of the hill the car is...
  43. M

    Solve Curvilinear Motion Homework: Car Dropped from 110 ft/s in 3 secs

    Homework Statement A stunt car is driven off a cliff with a speed of 110 ft/s. What is the gravitational acceleration of the car normal to its path after falling for 3 seconds? Homework Equations The kinematic equations...? I'm pretty sure that this should be done in Normal and...
  44. mnb96

    Curvilinear coordinates from orbits

    Hello, I have the following problem where I have two groups of transformations R_\alpha (rotation) and S_\lambda (scaling) acting on the plane, so that the orbits of any arbitrary point x=(x0,y0) under the actions of S_\lambda and R_\alpha are known (in the former case they are straight lines...
  45. R

    Intuitive / self-apparent derivation of gradient in curvilinear coords

    Hi there - I'm looking for a clear and intuitive explanation of how one obtains the gradient in polar / cylindrical / curvilinear coords. I do a lot of tutoring, but am finding that the method I've been using (basically chain rule + nature of directional derivative) just doesn't roll with...
  46. L

    Curvilinear Coordinates and Vector Calculus

    Homework Statement With \vec{L} = -i\vec{r} x \nabla, verify the operator identities \nabla = \hat{r}\frac{\partial }{\partial \vec{r}}-i\frac{\vec{r}\times\vec{L}}{r^{2}} and \vec{r} \bigtriangledown ^2 - \bigtriangledown (1+\vec{r}\frac{\partial }{\partial \vec{r}})=i\bigtriangledown \times...
  47. mnb96

    Curvilinear coordinate systems and periodic coordinates

    curvilinear coordinate systems and "periodic" coordinates Hello, we can consider a generic system of curvilinear coordinates in the 2d plane: \rho = \rho(x,y) \tau = \tau(x,y) Sometimes, it can happen that one of the coordinates, say \tau, represents an angle, and so it is "periodic"...
  48. E

    I can't do space curvilinear motion

    Homework Statement [PLAIN]http://a4.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/s720x720/300201_1919471514513_1473790586_31632884_1692676_n.jpg Homework Equations aR = \ddot{R} - R\dot{\phi}2 - R\dot{\theta}2cos2(\phi) a\theta = \frac{cos(\phi)}{R}\frac{d}{dt}(R2\dot{\theta}) -...
  49. L

    Question about curvilinear coordinates

    Just a quick little question. I was reading a wikipedia article about curvilinear coordinates, as well as some others, and a question popped into my head. Although we take this for granted (at least I do), now I have to ask this. From what I've seen as an engineer, we always define...
  50. S

    Curvilinear (n/t) motion (find magnitude of acceleration)

    pls see the attachment. so pretty much magnitude of acc would be root (at2 + an2). i figured out an by subbing it into v2/p. but i can't figure out how to calculate at! id really appreciate the help, I've been at it for 3 hours now! thanks!
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