Skip to main content
Taylor & Francis Group Logo
Advanced Search

Click here to search books using title name,author name and keywords.

  • Login
  • Hi, User  
    • Your Account
    • Logout
Advanced Search

Click here to search books using title name,author name and keywords.

Breadcrumbs Section. Click here to navigate to respective pages.

Chapter

Motion in Two and Three Dimensions

Chapter

Motion in Two and Three Dimensions

DOI link for Motion in Two and Three Dimensions

Motion in Two and Three Dimensions book

Motion in Two and Three Dimensions

DOI link for Motion in Two and Three Dimensions

Motion in Two and Three Dimensions book

ByChristopher W. Kulp, Vasilis Pagonis
BookClassical Mechanics

Click here to navigate to parent product.

Edition 1st Edition
First Published 2020
Imprint CRC Press
Pages 45
eBook ISBN 9781351024389

ABSTRACT

This chapter describes the motion of particles in two and three dimensions using Cartesian coordinates. Describing motion in two and three dimensions requires the use of vectors. After reviewing the basic properties of vectors and introducing the dot and cross products, the chapter introduces vector derivatives. Vector derivatives are necessary in order to compute the velocity and acceleration vectors. The chapter then describes polar, cylindrical, and spherical coordinates, and demonstrates how to describe a particle’s position, velocity, and acceleration in those coordinate systems. It discusses how to describe a particle’s motion in coordinate systems other than Cartesian coordinates. The new coordinate systems often exploit symmetries in the problem, making the non-Cartesian coordinate systems a more natural means of describing the motion of the particle. Finally, the chapter concludes with special vector derivatives commonly used in all fields of physics, such as the gradient, the divergence, and the curl.

T&F logoTaylor & Francis Group logo
  • Policies
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms & Conditions
    • Cookie Policy
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms & Conditions
    • Cookie Policy
  • Journals
    • Taylor & Francis Online
    • CogentOA
    • Taylor & Francis Online
    • CogentOA
  • Corporate
    • Taylor & Francis Group
    • Taylor & Francis Group
    • Taylor & Francis Group
    • Taylor & Francis Group
  • Help & Contact
    • Students/Researchers
    • Librarians/Institutions
    • Students/Researchers
    • Librarians/Institutions
  • Connect with us

Connect with us

Registered in England & Wales No. 3099067
5 Howick Place | London | SW1P 1WG © 2021 Informa UK Limited