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z
P(x,y,z)
x
This particular directed distancea vector beginning at the
origin and extending outward to a pointis a very important and
fundamental directed distance known as the position vector r .
Using the Cartesian coordinate system, the position vector can
be explicitly written as:
r = x ax + y ay + z az
Jim Stiles
Dept. of EECS
8/23/2005
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P( r )
Jim Stiles
Dept. of EECS
8/23/2005
3/7
The magnitude of r
Note the magnitude of any and all position vectors is:
r = r r = x 2 + y 2 + z 2 = r
Jim Stiles
Dept. of EECS
8/23/2005
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nor
r r ar + a + a
Dept. of EECS
8/23/2005
5/7
r = x ax + y ay + z az
= cos ax + sin ay + z az
= r sin cos ax + r sin sin ay + r cos az
Dept. of EECS
8/23/2005
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To see why this is important, lets go ahead and change the base
vectors used to express the position vector from Cartesian to
spherical or cylindrical. If we do this, we find:
r = x ax + y ay + z az
= a + z az
= r ar
r = ax + 2 ay 3 az
Jim Stiles
Dept. of EECS
8/23/2005
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Jim Stiles
Dept. of EECS