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    1. In cylindrical coordinates, the position vector has the following Cartesian -- tex2html_wrap_inline333 -- components:

      displaymath335

      where we have used the definitions of the cylindrical coordinate unit vectors in Cartesian components,

      displaymath337

      These unit vectors have time derivatives

      displaymath339

      Thus particle velocities are given by

      displaymath341

      and particle accelerations by

      displaymath343

      Substituting for the unit vector time derivatives gives

      displaymath345

    2. In spherical coordinates, the position vector has the following Cartesian components:

      displaymath347

      where we have used the spherical coordinate unit vectors in Cartesian components, as derived in Griffiths section 1.4,

      eqnarray79

      These unit vectors have time derivatives

      eqnarray84

      This leads to particle velocity

      displaymath349

      as you will show in assigned problem 1(a), and particle acceleration

      displaymath351

      Substituting for the unit vector time derivatives gives

      eqnarray135

    1. To keep tex2html_wrap_inline353 , tex2html_wrap_inline355 must vanish. But

      displaymath357

      Thus we must have a centripetal force directed radially inward, tex2html_wrap_inline359 .

    2. Since tex2html_wrap_inline361 ,

      eqnarray160

      For constant tex2html_wrap_inline363 , tex2html_wrap_inline365 reduces to tex2html_wrap_inline367 . So we have solutions

      displaymath369

      tex2html_wrap431 tex2html_wrap433

  1. Solution appears in Griffiths Example 1.3.
    1. In spherical coordinates, from Griffiths section 1.4, infinitesimal increases in our variables correspond to infinitesimal physical displacements of tex2html_wrap_inline375 as follows:

      displaymath377

      By the chain rule, tex2html_wrap_inline379 . By definition of the gradient, tex2html_wrap_inline381 . Setting the two expressions for df equal gives

      displaymath385

      Similarly, in cylindrical coordinates, infinitesimal coordinate changes cause infinitesimal physical displacements of tex2html_wrap_inline375 as follows:

      displaymath389

      So tex2html_wrap_inline391 (in cylindrical -- tex2html_wrap_inline393 -- coordinates). By the chain rule, tex2html_wrap_inline395 . The same df is given by tex2html_wrap_inline381 . Setting both expressions equal gives

      displaymath401


    2. tex2html_wrap437 tex2html_wrap439

      tex2html_wrap441 tex2html_wrap443





Katherine Benson
Sat Feb 23 14:21:23 EST 2002