G43 Geometric Modeling

Geometric coordinate
systems
Dr.C. Paramasivam
E-mail: cpmech@tce.edu
1

Course Objectives
By the end of the course, student will be able to:
1. Define the coordinate system for the development
of models based on input and geometry.
2. Develop and manipulate the curves and surfaces
using parametric equations.
3. Develop and manipulate the solid models using
modeling techniques.
4. Implement the transformation and projection over
the geometric models.
5. Implement the neutral file formats over 2D
wireframe models.

1. Cartesian Coordinates
The location of a point in three dimensional space may be
specified by an ordered set of numbers (x, y, z).

2. Cylindrical Coordinate

Cylindrical Coordinates
Cylindrical coordinates just adds a z-coordinate
to the polar coordinates (r,).

Cylindrical Coordinates
Cylindrical coordinates just adds a z-coordinate
to the polar coordinates (r,).

Cylindrical Coordinates
Cylindrical coordinates just adds a z-coordinate
to the polar coordinates (r,).

Cylindrical Coordinates
Cylindrical coordinates just adds a z-coordinate
to the polar coordinates (r,).

Cylindrical Coordinates
Cylindrical coordinates just adds a z-coordinate
to the polar coordinates (r,).

Cylindrical Coordinates
Cylindrical coordinates just adds a z-coordinate
to the polar coordinates (r,).

Cylindrical Coordinates

(r,,z)

Convertion between rectangular

and Cylindrical Coordinates
Cylindrical to rectangular
(r,,z)

x = r cos( )
y = r sin( )
z=z
Rectangular to Cylindrical

r 2 = x2 + y 2
y
tan( ) =
x
z=z

Cylindrical Coordinates
Cylindrical coordinates are a generalization of two-dimensional
polar coordinates to three dimensions by a height along (z) axis.
A point P is represented by an
ordered triple of (r , , z ) .
To change from rectangular to cylindrical:
r = x2 + y 2

= tan 1
z=z

To change from
cylindrical to
rectangular:

x = r cos
y = r sin ,

z=z

y
x

3. Spherical Coordinates
It is a coordinate system for three-dimensional space where the
position of a point is specified by three numbers: the radial distance
of that point from a fixed origin, its inclination angle measured from a
fixed zenith direction, and the azimuth angle of its orthogonal
projection.

Cartesian

Cylindrical

Spherical

In Cartesian CS, directions of unit vectors are independent of

their positions.
In Cylindrical and Spherical systems, directions of unit vectors
depend on positions....

Spherical coordinates (r, , ) of a point can be obtained

from its Cartesian coordinates (x, y, z) by the formulas:

Cartesian coordinates may be retrieved from the spherical

coordinates (r, , ), where r [0, ), [0, ],
[0, 2 ), by:

Cylindrical coordinates (r, , z) may be converted into

spherical coordinates (, , ), by the formulas

Spherical coordinates may be converted

cylindrical coordinates by the formulae

into

Applications:
The most common use of cylindrical coordinates is to give the
equation of a surface of revolution. The z-axis is taken as
the axis of revolution.
Example:
Paraboloid of revolution might have equation z = r2.
Cartesian coordinate equation of the paraboloid of revolution
would be z = x2 + y2.

Summary

Rectangular to cylindrical:
r = x2 + y2

= tan
Cylindrical to
rectangular:

y
x

x = r cos
y = r sin

Spherical to Rectangular:
Rectangular to Spherical:

x = sin cos , y = sin sin , z = cos

= x2 + y 2 + z 2 , tan =

Spherical to cylindrical ( r 0 ): r 2 =
Cylindrical to spherical ( r 0 ):

y
z
, = arccos
x2 + y2 + z 2
x

2 sin2 , = , z = cos

2
2
r +z

= r 2 + z 2 , = , = arccos

Sample Questions
1.What is Cartesian coordinate?
2.What is Polar coordinate?
3.What is cylindrical coordinate?
4.What is spherical coordinate?
5.How can you convert rectangular space point in to cylindrical
space point?
6.How can you convert polar coordinate point in to cylindrical
space point?
7.Find the cylindrical coordinates of the point

whose Cartesian

coordinates are (1, 2, 3)?

8.Find the Cartesian coordinates of the point whose cylindrical
coordinates are (2, Pi/4, 3)?