Express a vector in a rotated coordinate system

Click For Summary
To express a vector in a rotated coordinate system, one must apply a rotation matrix corresponding to the angle of rotation. The discussion highlights that rotating the vector itself by the negative angle achieves the desired transformation into the new coordinate system. For instance, rotating the vector (1, 0) by 90 degrees clockwise results in the vector (0, -1) in the new system. This method effectively aligns the vector with the new axes defined by the rotation. Understanding this relationship between vector rotation and coordinate system transformation is crucial for accurate representation.
Niles
Messages
1,834
Reaction score
0

Homework Statement


Hi

I have a coordinate system (x', y') and a vector v'=(1, 0) here. There is a different coordinate system (x, y), which is rotated about the y-axis relative to (x', y') by an angle Ω. I am trying to express v' in the system (x, y).

At first what I tried to do was to rotate v' by an angle Ω around the y-axis by a rotation matrix, but then it occurred to me that this only rotates the vector, it does not express it in the system (x, y). Can I get a hint to how to achieve this?

Thanks in advance.
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Expressing a vector in a coordinate system that has been rotated by angle \theta is the same as rotating the vector, in the original coordinate system by -\theta.

For example, if I rotate coordinate system x'y' by 90 degrees, counterclock wise, then the new positive x-axis is the old y'-axis and the new positive y-axis is the old negative x'-axis. (1, 0) becomes (0, -1), exactly the same as rotating the vector itself 90 degrees clockwise.
 
  • Like
Likes 1 person
I see, that makes good sense. Thanks for helping me out these past days.
 

Similar threads

Replies
20
Views
4K
Replies
7
Views
2K
  • · Replies 16 ·
Replies
16
Views
5K
  • · Replies 9 ·
Replies
9
Views
908
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
Replies
1
Views
2K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
3K
Replies
17
Views
2K
Replies
20
Views
3K
  • · Replies 14 ·
Replies
14
Views
3K