Coordinates transformation by rotating at the origin.

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around transforming rectangular coordinates (xyz) to rotated rectangular coordinates (x", y", z") at the origin, followed by converting these to spherical coordinates. The original poster seeks verification of their method involving rotations about the z-axis and x'-axis, as illustrated in attached diagrams.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Mathematical reasoning

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the clarity of using matrix forms for coordinate transformations and question the correctness of the original poster's derivations. There are inquiries about the differences between spherical coordinates and suggestions for resources to understand the topic better.

Discussion Status

The discussion is ongoing, with participants providing insights and resources. Some participants express uncertainty about the original poster's assumptions and calculations, particularly regarding the direction of rotations and the use of matrix representations. There is no explicit consensus, but various interpretations and clarifications are being explored.

Contextual Notes

Participants note the relevance of analytic geometry in the context of rotations and transformations, and there is mention of the right-hand rule in relation to coordinate transformations. The original poster's background in antenna design is also highlighted, indicating a practical application of the discussed concepts.

yungman
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I want to transform from rectangular coordinates ( xyz) to (x",y",z") rectangular coordinates that is rotated at the origin as show in the attachment. Then I want to transform (x",y",z") rectangular coordinates into Spherical coordinates.

Attach is the method I use, I want to verify I am doing it correctly. Basically I want to transform the xyz into any position on the SAME ORIGIN as shown in Fig.1. I first rotate along z axis on the xy plane as shown in Fig.2. I rotate clockwise as shown by angle ##\alpha##. I called the new coordinates as (x',y',z') as intermediate coordinates. Then the second step is to rotate along x' axis as shown in Fig. 3 by angle ##\beta## to get the final (x",y",z") coordinates. I also show my work step by step in the drawing attached.

[PLAIN]http://i43.tinypic.com/2uxwt52.jpg[/PLAIN]

Then the final step of transforming to Spherical coordinates is by the same method like

\hat R=\hat x''(\hat x''\cdot \hat R)+\hat y''(\hat y''\cdot\hat R)+\hat z''(\hat z''\cdot\hat R)

Am I correct?

Thanks a million.
 
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SteamKing said:
These manipulations are much clearer and simpler when put into matrix form.

See: http://www.cs.brandeis.edu/~cs155/Lecture_07_6.pdf

This is standard stuff for a lot of computer work with 3-D coordinates.

Thanks for the information. What topic is this under? I took a quick look at a Linear Algebra textbook and I didn't see it.

Also, Do you have the transformation from one Spherical coordinates to another Spherical coordinates? eg. From (R,θ,∅) to (R',θ',∅')?

Also, any online calculator for 3D rotation?

Thanks
 
In general, rotations and translations of coordinates should be addressed under analytic geometry. Matrices are useful in topics besides linear algebra.

It's not clear to me what the difference is between your two sets of spherical coordinates.
 
SteamKing said:
In general, rotations and translations of coordinates should be addressed under analytic geometry. Matrices are useful in topics besides linear algebra.

It's not clear to me what the difference is between your two sets of spherical coordinates.

Can you give a suggestion on a book? I am working through the article you provided to verify.

I am not a math major, I am using this in Antenna design. The problem I am working on is that the dipole ( which is just like a vector) is situated at the origin but point to some direction. The field it is radiating out is in the ##\hat \theta##' direction RESPECT to the dipole ( as if the dipole is pointing at +z' direction of it's own coordinates (R',##\theta##',##\phi##')). I need to find the direction of the field at a point P in the normal (##R,\theta,\phi##) coordinates.

Thanks for all your help.

Alan
 
Last edited:
I am trying to verify my work with the notes you gave. For CCW rotation about the z-axis, it is given:


\left( \begin{array} \;x' \\ y' \\ z' \\ 1\end{array}\right)=\left(\begin{array} \;\cos \theta & -\sin\theta & 0 & 0\\ \sin\theta & \cos\theta & 0 & 0\\0 & 0 & 1 & 0\\ 0 & 0 & 0 & 1\end{array}\right) \left( \begin{array} \;x \\ y \\ z \\ 1 \end{array}\right)

To conform to the Right Hand notation, I just let ##\cos\theta=\cos (2\pi-\alpha)=\cos\alpha\;## and ##\;\sin\theta=-\sin(2\pi-\alpha)=-\sin\alpha\;## to give:

\left( \begin{array} \;x' \\ y' \\ z' \\ 1\end{array}\right)=\left(\begin{array} \;\cos \theta & -\sin\theta & 0 & 0\\ \sin\theta & \cos\theta & 0 & 0\\0 & 0 & 1 & 0\\ 0 & 0 & 0 & 1\end{array}\right) \left( \begin{array} \;x \\ y \\ z \\ 1 \end{array}\right)=\left(\begin{array} \;\cos \alpha & \sin\alpha & 0 & 0\\ -\sin\alpha & \cos\alpha & 0 & 0\\0 & 0 & 1 & 0\\ 0 & 0 & 0 & 1\end{array}\right)\left( \begin{array} \;x \\ y \\ z \\ 1 \end{array}\right)

This implies ##x'=x\cos\alpha-y\sin\alpha\;## and ## y'=-x\sin\alpha+y\cos\alpha##.
But if you look at step 1 in my notes in post #1. It is different. I triple checked my work and I am confident I am correct.

The most important thing is to look at the graph physically. If you rotate about z axis clockwise by ##\alpha##, the y component has to be negative agreeing with my derivation in post #1.

Please help.
 
Last edited:
Also is

\left( \begin{array} \;x' \\ y' \\ z' \\ 1\end{array}\right)=\left(\begin{array} \;\cos \alpha & -\sin\alpha & 0 & 0\\ \sin\alpha & \cos\theta & 0 & 0\\0 & 0 & 1 & 0\\ 0 & 0 & 0 & 1\end{array}\right) \left( \begin{array} \;x \\ y \\ z \\ 1 \end{array}\right)

really means


\left( \begin{array} \;\hat x' \\ \hat y' \\ \hat z' \\ 1\end{array}\right)=\left(\begin{array} \;\cos \alpha & -\sin\alpha & 0 & 0\\ \sin\alpha & \cos\theta & 0 & 0\\0 & 0 & 1 & 0\\ 0 & 0 & 0 & 1\end{array}\right) \left( \begin{array} \;\hat x \\ \hat y \\ \hat z \\ 1 \end{array}\right)

As this is vector translations.

Also, why do we have the "1" inserted into make it a 4X4 instead 3X3 array for calculation? I try eliminating the "1" and calculate as 3X3 array and it gave the same result.


\left( \begin{array} \;\hat x' \\ \hat y' \\ \hat z' \end{array}\right)=\left(\begin{array} \;\cos \alpha & -\sin\alpha & 0 \\ \sin\alpha & \cos\theta & 0 \\0 & 0 & 1 \end{array}\right) \left( \begin{array} \;\hat x \\ \hat y \\ \hat z \end{array}\right)

Thanks
 
The '1' in the lower right hand cell of the transformation matrix is there in order to make what is called an 'affine transformation'. More explanations are given here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cartesian_coordinate_system

I didn't check your OP too closely. The positive rotations in coordinate transformation generally follow the right hand rule. Check your assumptions to see if they are also right-handed.

In the right hand convention, the following cross products give a positive result:

i x j = k
j x k = i
k x j = i

where i, j, k are the three unit vectors for a cartesian coordinate system.
 
  • #10
Thanks for your time helping me repeatedly.

Before today, I don't even know this is a big topics. I derived my OP just from dot products. In my example as shown in Fig.2, I used Left Hand rotation ( notation) for not knowing any better. To conform to the Right Hand notation, I just let ##\cos\theta=\cos (2\pi-\alpha)=\cos\alpha\;## and ##\;\sin\theta=-\sin(2\pi-\alpha)=-\sin\alpha\;## to give:

\left( \begin{array} \;x' \\ y' \\ z' \\ 1\end{array}\right)=\left(\begin{array} \;\cos \theta & -\sin\theta & 0 & 0\\ \sin\theta & \cos\theta & 0 & 0\\0 & 0 & 1 & 0\\ 0 & 0 & 0 & 1\end{array}\right) \left( \begin{array} \;x \\ y \\ z \\ 1 \end{array}\right)=\left(\begin{array} \;\cos \alpha & \sin\alpha & 0 & 0\\ -\sin\alpha & \cos\alpha & 0 & 0\\0 & 0 & 1 & 0\\ 0 & 0 & 0 & 1\end{array}\right)\left( \begin{array} \;x \\ y \\ z \\ 1 \end{array}\right)

This implies ##x'=x\cos\alpha-y\sin\alpha\;## and ## y'=-x\sin\alpha+y\cos\alpha##.

From looking at Fig.2 in my original drawing, I just cannot agree with the outcome. The most important thing is to look at the graph physically. If you rotate about z axis clockwise by ##\alpha##, the y component of x' has to be negative agreeing with my derivation in post #1. Also, both x and y component of y' have to be both positive as ##\hat y'## is in the first quadrant on the xy plane.

Thanks

Alan
 
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  • #11
A basic property of even functions is that f(-x) = f(x), while for odd functions f(-x) = -f(x).

cos(x) is an even function, while sin(x) is an odd function. A check of the graph of sin and cos confirms this.
 
  • #12
SteamKing said:
A basic property of even functions is that f(-x) = f(x), while for odd functions f(-x) = -f(x).

cos(x) is an even function, while sin(x) is an odd function. A check of the graph of sin and cos confirms this.

I just make a big update on my post #7 and #10 to transform my LH notion to RH notion by letting ##\theta =2\pi-\alpha##. And I went through the derivation to show it is NOT agreeing with my OP.
 
Last edited:
  • #13
Anyone?
 

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