Homework Help: Rotation of cartesian coordinate system

1. Sep 10, 2012

xzibition8612

1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data
Please see the rotation formula in the attachment.

2. Relevant equations

3. The attempt at a solution
I understand this formula rotates x,y into x',y' by some angle theta. Problem is, how is this formula derived? I cannot for the life of me visualize the cosine and sine transformation physically. Can someone explain to me how you get this formula. Thank you very much.

Attached Files:

• cartesian counterclockwise rotation.doc
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2. Sep 10, 2012

Staff: Mentor

Consider the vector that extends from the origin to the point (x,y) in the base coordinate system. It has some magnitude R and angle β with respect to the x-axis of the coordinate system. In fact, x = Rcos(β) and y = Rsin(β).

Rotating that point around the origin by some angle θ is equivalent to rotating the vector by θ, so what would the coordinates of its endpoint be?

3. Sep 11, 2012

xzibition8612

so the end points would be x=Rcos(β+θ), y=Rsin(β+θ). Then what? I still can't see how this relates to the formula, espcially how in the formula for x' and y' individually there are x and y terms together.

4. Sep 11, 2012

Muphrid

What you just found are the $x'$ and $y'$ coordinates. Expand the sines and cosines using angle sum formulas and put any sines or cosines of $\beta$ in terms of the origina $x,y$.

5. Sep 11, 2012

xzibition8612

x' = R(cosβcosθ-sinβsinθ)
y' = R(sinβcosθ+sinβcosθ)

x' = R[(x/R)cosθ-(y/R)sinθ]
y' = R[(y/R)cosθ+(y/R)cosθ]

arrrrgh almost there. First term in y' is wrong. I get y' = ycosθ .... instead of y' = xsinθ ...

Can someone point out myt mistake? Thanks a lot for your help!

6. Sep 11, 2012

Muphrid

In your second line, you forgot to switch beta and theta in the second term.