Spherical co-ord notation

In summary, there is a difference in notation for spherical coordinates between physicists and mathematicians. While Griffith's "Introduction to electrodynamics" uses one definition with symbols for polar and azimuthal angles, mathematicians may use different symbols or even a picture representation. This difference in notation should not cause confusion as long as one understands the defined angles. Tevian Dray and Corinne A. Manogue from Oregon State University have a proposal to address this discrepancy.
  • #1
nicksauce
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In Griffith's "Introduction to electrodynamics" he uses the following definition for spherical coordinates:

[tex]x=r\sin{\theta}cos{\phi}[/tex]
[tex]y=r\sin{\theta}sin{\phi}[/tex]
[tex]z=r\cos{\theta} [/tex]

However, in all previous calculus classes, I have always used the opposite with respect to [tex]\phi[/tex] and [tex]\theta[/tex]. Anyone know why there is this conflict of notation? It is confusing as hell!
 
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  • #2
  • #3
nicksauce said:
In Griffith's "Introduction to electrodynamics" he uses the following definition for spherical coordinates:

[tex]x=r\sin{\theta}cos{\phi}[/tex]
[tex]y=r\sin{\theta}sin{\phi}[/tex]
[tex]z=r\cos{\theta} [/tex]

However, in all previous calculus classes, I have always used the opposite with respect to [tex]\phi[/tex] and [tex]\theta[/tex]. Anyone know why there is this conflict of notation? It is confusing as hell!

Don't get hung up on the notation. Pay attention to how these angles are defined. One is the polar angle, the other is the azimuthal angle. You can represent it with any symbol that you like, or stick a picture of a cow and a donkey on it. As long as you understand how they are defined, that's all that matters.

Zz.
 
  • #5
neutrino said:
I think this is one question not even the "Theory of Everything" can answer. :biggrin: Physicists prefer one way, and mathematicians prefer another. The even use different letters, sometimes.

http://mathworld.wolfram.com/SphericalCoordinates.html

I didn't even notice that mathmos do it the other way round... how the hell did I miss that all these years?!
 

Related to Spherical co-ord notation

1. What is spherical co-ord notation?

Spherical co-ord notation is a system used to represent points in three-dimensional space using two angles and a distance from a fixed point. It is commonly used in mathematics, physics, and engineering to describe the position of an object in space.

2. What are the three components of spherical co-ord notation?

The three components of spherical co-ord notation are the radial distance, the azimuth angle, and the inclination angle. The radial distance is the distance from the fixed point to the point in question, while the azimuth and inclination angles describe the direction of the point from the fixed point.

3. How is spherical co-ord notation different from Cartesian co-ordinates?

While Cartesian co-ordinates use three values (x, y, and z) to represent a point in three-dimensional space, spherical co-ord notation uses two angles and a distance. This can be useful for describing the position of an object in relation to a fixed point, such as the center of a sphere or the Earth's center.

4. What are some common applications of spherical co-ord notation?

Spherical co-ord notation is commonly used in navigation, astronomy, and geodesy. It is also used in physics and engineering to describe the position of objects in three-dimensional space, such as in modeling the motion of planets or satellites.

5. How is spherical co-ord notation related to polar co-ordinates?

Spherical co-ord notation is similar to polar co-ordinates in that both use angles and a distance to represent points in two or three-dimensional space. However, spherical co-ord notation adds a third dimension, the inclination angle, allowing for a more accurate representation of points in three-dimensional space.

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