Understanding Spherical Coordinates

Click For Summary
SUMMARY

The discussion clarifies the use of spherical coordinates, specifically focusing on the parameters ρ, k, and w. The first parametric equation describes the surface of a sphere with radius a, while the second equation represents points within a solid sphere. It is established that ρ denotes a specific distance from the origin to a point in space, rather than the entire line segment from the origin to that point.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of spherical coordinates
  • Familiarity with parametric equations
  • Knowledge of trigonometric functions
  • Basic geometry of spheres
NEXT STEPS
  • Study the derivation of spherical coordinates in three-dimensional space
  • Explore the applications of spherical coordinates in physics and engineering
  • Learn about the conversion between Cartesian and spherical coordinates
  • Investigate the use of spherical coordinates in computer graphics
USEFUL FOR

Students and professionals in mathematics, physics, and engineering who are working with three-dimensional modeling and spatial analysis will benefit from this discussion.

Miike012
Messages
1,009
Reaction score
0
questioning what ρ does. What is the difference between the two equations?

Let k be the angle from the positive z-axis and w be the angle from the pos x-axis

parametric equation of a sphere with radius a
paramet eq. 1:
x = asin(k)cos(w)
y = asin(k)sin(w)
z= acos(k)

0≤w≤2pi
0≤k≤pi
a is constant

paramet equ 2:
x = ρsin(k)cos(w)
y = ρsin(k)sin(w)
z= ρcos(k)
0≤w≤2pi
0≤k≤pi
0≤ρ≤a

Is the first equation the surface of the sphere and the second would be the equation of a solid sphere?

second question: Look in paint document:
I originally thought that ρ = constant (which is the distance from the origin to the point) was the entire line segment from the origin to the point. But if my understanding is correct the coordinate ρ actually represents some point ρ units aways from the origin. Is this correct?
 

Attachments

  • coordinates.jpg
    coordinates.jpg
    3.2 KB · Views: 504
Physics news on Phys.org
Miike012 said:
questioning what ρ does. What is the difference between the two equations?

Let k be the angle from the positive z-axis and w be the angle from the pos x-axis

parametric equation of a sphere with radius a
paramet eq. 1:
x = asin(k)cos(w)
y = asin(k)sin(w)
z= acos(k)

0≤w≤2pi
0≤k≤pi
a is constant

paramet equ 2:
x = ρsin(k)cos(w)
y = ρsin(k)sin(w)
z= ρcos(k)
0≤w≤2pi
0≤k≤pi
0≤ρ≤a

Is the first equation the surface of the sphere and the second would be the equation of a solid sphere?

Yes.

second question: Look in paint document:
I originally thought that ρ = constant (which is the distance from the origin to the point) was the entire line segment from the origin to the point. But if my understanding is correct the coordinate ρ actually represents some point ρ units aways from the origin. Is this correct?

Yes.
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
2K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
3K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
4K
Replies
3
Views
2K
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
3K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
3K
  • · Replies 9 ·
Replies
9
Views
3K