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Review of Vector Analysis (continued)

Dr. Shady Elashhab, PhD
Lecture 2
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The cylindrical coordinate system
Is a three-dimensional
coordinate system, in which
a point is specified as the
intersection of three
mutually perpendicular
surfaces:
Constant z plane
Constant plane
Constant plane
This corresponds to the location of a point in a Cartesian coordinate system by the
intersection of three planes (x = constant, y = constant, and z = constant).
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The cylindrical coordinate system
Three unit vectors are
utilized in the cylindrical
coordinate system:
a

: unit vector in the

direction of increasing ;
a

: unit vector in the

direction of increasing ;
and
a
z
: unit vector in the
direction of increasing z.
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Transformation between Cartesian and Cylindrical
Coordinates
1- A scalar function (a point)
From Cartesian to Cylindrical:
From Cylindrical to Cartesian:
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2- Vector transformation
given a Cartesian vector
where vector components are represented in terms of x; y, and z, and
we need a vector in cylindrical coordinates
where vector components are represented in terms of , ,
and z.
Thus, we need to find the components of A in the directions
a

, a

, and a
z
How can we achieve that?
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Recall that:
Similarly
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Transforming vectors from Cartesian to
Cylindrical coordinates or vice versa is
therefore accomplished in two steps:
Changing variables (as in slide 4), and
Changing components using the dot products of
the unit vectors (as in slide 6).
The two steps may be taken in either order.
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Example 1
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THE SPHERICAL COORDINATE SYSTEM
From Cartesian to Spherical:
From Spherical to Cartesian:
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Example 2:
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Differential Lengths, Surfaces and
Volumes
When integrating along lines, over surfaces, or throughout
volumes, the ranges of the respective variables define the
limits of the respective integrations.
In order to evaluate these integrals, we must properly define
the differential elements of length, surface and volume in the
coordinate system of interest.
The definition of the proper differential elements of length
(dl for line integrals) and area (ds for surface integrals) can be
determined directly from the definition of the differential
volume (dv for volume integrals) in a particular coordinate
system.
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1. Rectangular Coordinates
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Differential Elements in Cylindrical Coordinates
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Differential Elements in Spherical Coordinates
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Example 3
Solution
Use cylindrical where and z are constants
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Use spherical where r is constant
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Use spherical where all parameters are variables
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Example 4
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Electrostatic Fields
Electrostatic fields are time invariant electric fields produced by stationary
charges.
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An Alternative formula for Coulombs Law
We have
And the unit vector
Therefore,
Illustration of forces.
Example 5
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Radial unit
vector
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Electric Field due to Multiple point charges
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Announcements
Homework # 1 was due on 8/24/2014
No homework assignments for today
Homework # 2 will cover lectures 2 and 3