----------Examples:

Polar coordinates are an example of a 2-D system of coordinates that are not rectangular:

r = r(x,y) = (x+y)

q1 = q1(x,y) and x = r cos() x = x(q1,q2)

= (x,y) = arctan(y/x) q2 = q2(x,y) and y = r sin() y = y(q1,q2).

Another example involving time: rotating polar coordinates

r = r(x,y,t) = (x+y)

q1 = q1(x,y,t) and x = x(r,,t) = r cos(+t)

= (x,y,t) = arctan(y/x) - t q2 = q2(x,y,t) and y = y(r,,t) = r sin(+t)

{note: sign difference due to fact that if we let = +t, then = -t}
-----------

3. We also need generalized velocities for energy considerations (for use in conservation of energy) and
for momentum considerations (for use in Newtons Second Law: F = dp/dt).

For one particle in rectangular form: KE = mv = m(x+y+z 2)

For more than one particle in rectangular form:

where x = dx/dt.

KE = T = i[mi{xi+yi+zi}].

Since x1 = x1(q1, q2, ... , qn, t) we have

dx1 = (x1/q1)dq1 + (x1/q2)dq2 + ... (x1/qn)dqn + (x1/t)dt

so x1 = dx1/dt

= [1/dt]*[(x1/q1)dq1 + (x1/q2)dq2 + ... (x1/qn)dqn + (x1/t)dt)

i(x1/dqi)qi + x1/t

------------Example: Rotating Polar Coordinates

x = r cos(t+)

x = (x/r)r + (x/) + (x/t)

= rcos(t+) + (-r sin(t+)) + (-r sin(t+))

x component

of r

and of

and of

r .

-------------

4. The KE involves not just x, but x. What does this look like?

x = [k{(x/qk)qk + x/t}] * [{(x/q)q + x/t}]

= [k{(x/qk)(x/q)qkq}] + [k{(x/qk)(x/t)qk}]
+ [{(x/q)(x/t)q}] + (x/t) .

Since the k and the are what are called dummy indices (because they are summed over completely) and
do not matter whether they are called k or , the second and third terms are exactly the same and can be
combined. Thus the expression becomes:

x = [k{(x/qk)(x/q)qkq}] + 2[k{(x/qk)(x/t)qk}] + (x/t)

If we have more than one particle, all the x symbols above are replaced by x i.
We can now write the expression for KE (sometimes referred to as T):

T = i{mi(xi + yi + zi)} = kl{Akqkq} + kBkqk + To

where
Ak = i{mi[(xi/qk)(xi/q) + (yi/qk)(yi/q) + (zi/qk)(zi/q)]}
Bk = i{mi[(xi/qk)(xi/t) + (yi/qk)(yi/t) + (zi/qk)(zi/t)]}
To = i{mi[(xi/t) + (yi/t) + (zi/t)]} .

NOTE: Ak = Ak . If Ak = k (where k = 1 if k=, and k = 0 otherwise; it is called the Dirac delta

function), then the coordinates are said to be orthogonal.

Suppose we have a non-orthogonal system. v = uu + ww

where the

angle between u and w is which is NOT 90. Then:

v = v v = (uu + ww) (uu + ww) = u + w + 2uw cos() .

Notice that this term has an Ak that is not zero if k !

-------------EXAMPLE:
For the case of one particle, use the above to show what the kinetic energy looks like in the
rotating polar coordinates. In particular,
a) find A11, A12, A21 and A22; show that this system is orthogonal (A12 = A21 = 0);
b) find B1 and B2;
c) find To;
d) write down the final Kinetic Energy; identify each term in the expression.

For rotating polar coordinates (2-D):

q1 = r = r(x,y,t) = (x+y)

and

x = x(r,,t) = r cos(+t)

q2 = = (x,y,t) = arctan(y/x) - t and

y = y(r,,t) = r sin(+t)

Kinetic Energy: T = i{mi(x + y + z)} = kl{Akqkq} + kBkqk + To

where
Ak = i{mi[(xi/qk)(xi/q) + (yi/qk)(yi/q) + (zi/qk)(zi/q)]}
Bk = i{mi[(xi/qk)(xi/t) + (yi/qk)(yi/t) + (zi/qk)(zi/t)]}
To = i{mi[(xi/t) + (yi/t) + (zi/t)]} .

We have only 1 particle, so there is no need to take the sum over i, and all the mis will just be m, all of the
xis will be x, and all of the yis will be y.
We only have 2-D, so there are no z terms.

For rotating polar coordinates,

(x/q1) = (x/r) = ([r cos(+t)]/r) = cos(+t)
(x/q2) = (x/) = ([r cos(+t)]/) = -r sin(+t)
(x/t)

= (x/t) = ([r cos(+t)]/t) = -r sin(+t)

(y/q1) = (y/r) = ([r sin(+t)]/r) = sin(+t)

(y/q2) = (y/) = ([r sin(+t)]/) = r cos(+t)

(y/t)

= (y/t) = ([r sin(+t)]/t) = r cos(+t)

a) Therefore, we have:
A11 = m[(x/q1)(x/q1) + (y/q1)(y/q1) = m[cos2(+t) + sin2(+t)] = m.
A12 = m[(x/q1)(x/q2) + (y/q1)(y/q2)] = A21
= m[{cos(+t)}*{-r sin(+t)} + {sin(+t)}*{ r cos(+t)}] = 0.
A22 = m[(x/q2)(x/q2) + (y/q2)(y/q2) = m[r2sin2(+t) + r2cos2(+t)] = mr2.

b)

B1 = m[(x/q1)(x/t) + (y/q1)(y/t)]
= m[{cos(+t)}*{ -r sin(+t)} + { sin(+t)}*{ r cos(+t )} ] = 0.
B2 = m[(x/q2)(x/t) + (y/q2)(y/t)]
= m[ {-r sin(+t)}*{ -r sin(+t)} + { r cos(+t)}*{ r cos(+t)}]
= mr2 .

c)

To = i{mi[(xi/t) + (yi/t) + (zi/t)]}

= m[ {-r sin(+t)} + { r cos(+t)} ] = mr22 .

d)

T = i{mi(x + y + z)} = kl{Akqkq} + kBkqk + To

= [A11q1q1 + A12q1q2 + A21q2q1 + A22q2q2] + B1q1 + B2q2 + To
= mr2 + 0 + 0 + mr22 + 0 + mr2 + mr22
= mr2 + mr2(+)2

where r is the radial speed, and r(+) is the tangential speed.

----------WRITTEN HOMEWORK PROBLEMS #5a and #6a:
(You should be able to do part a of problem 5 and part a of problem 6 now.)

Problem #5: (Problem 9-1 in Symon)

Consider the coordinates u and w that are defined in terms of the polar coordinates r and :
u = ln(r/a) cot() and

w = ln(r/a) + tan()

where a and are constants.

Sketch the curves of constant u and w: this is already done for you - see notes on next section
and/or the excel spreadsheet Spiral Coordinates on the course web page..
a) Find the kinetic energy for a particle of mass m in terms of u, w, du/dt, and dw/dt .
b) Find expressions for Qu and Qw in terms of the polar force components Fr and F .
c) Find pu and pw .
** d) extra credit: find the forces Qu and Qw required to make the particle move with constant speed,
ds/dt, along a spiral of constant u=uo .

HINT: You can try to find the inverse transformations to get x(u,w) and y(u,w), and
then proceed as indicated above. Or it may be easier to get the kinetic energy in

polar form (r,); find the inverse transformations: r(u,w) and (u,w); then find
r(u,w,u,w) and (u,w,u,w); then write the kinetic energy in terms of u,w,u,w.

Problem #6: (Problem 9-3 in Symon)

For plane (2-D) parabolic coordinates f and h defined such that: x = f h and y = 2(fh)1/2
(see the excel spreadsheet Parabolic Coordinates accessed from the course web page to see an image);
a) find the expression for the kinetic energy in terms of f, h, f, and h;
b) find the expression for the momenta: pf and ph ;
c) write out the Lagrange equations in these coordinates if we assume the particle is not acted on by any
force.