Partie I.
Coordinate Systems
Used to describe the position of a point in space.
Coodrinate system consist of
A fixe reference point called the ORIGINE.
Specific axes with scales and labels.
Coordinate Systems
There are several different coordinate systems used in mathematic, physic, and
engineering to describe positions and movements. The most common ones
include:
1- Cartesian Coordinate System (x,y,z)
For define a point in space we uses perpendicular axes (x, y) if there are 2D dimensional,
and (x,y,z) for 3D dimensial.
Example: A point in 2D is represented as A(x, y), and in 3D as A(x, y, z).
Commonly used in physics, engineering, and computer graphics.
M (2,3)
j
i
𝑂𝑀 = 2Ԧ𝑖 + 3Ԧ𝑗
𝑂𝑀 = 2Ԧ𝑖 + 3Ԧ𝑗 + 4𝑘
2- Polar Coordinate System (r, θ) (Used in 2D)
Uses a radius (r) and angle (θ).
Example: A point is represented as (r, θ), where:
r = distance from the origin
θ = angle from the positive x-axis
𝑼𝒓
3- Cylindrical Coordinate System (r, θ, z) (3D Extension of Polar Coordinates)
Defined by (r, θ, z), where:
r = radial distance from the z-axis
θ = angle around the z-axis
z = height (same as Cartesian z)
𝑑𝑟 = 𝑑𝑟 𝑢𝑟 + 𝑟𝑑𝜃 𝑢𝜃 + 𝑑𝑧 𝑢𝑧
Partie II : Differential Operators
1- Derivative
The simplest differential operator is the derivative :
For a function f(x), applying D :
Partie II : Differential Operators
2- Nabla
The Nabla operator defined in Cartesian coordinates as:
Partie II : Differential Operators
3- Gradient
In physics and vector analysis, a gradient is a vector indicating how a physical quantity
varies in space.
it is a VECTOR whose components are the partial derivatives of a SCALAR field f with
respect to the coordinates considered, its symbol is
The gradient of a function f(x,y,z) is a vector. Let f(x,y,z) then:
With:
𝜕/𝜕𝑥 𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧) is the partial derivative of 𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧) with respect to x considering y and z like constants
𝜕/𝜕y 𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧) is the partial derivative of 𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧) with respect to y considering x and z like constants
𝜕/𝜕z 𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧) is the partial derivative of 𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧) with respect to z considering x and y like constants
Example :
Partie II : Differential Operators
4- DIVERGENCE
The divergence of a VECTOR field is a SCALAR defined by the application of the nabla operator
to a vector field calculated from the following expression.
Example:
Partie II : Differential Operators
5- ROTATIONAL
It is a vector that applies to a vector (vector field)
Calculated from the following expression
Note: if the field is non-rotating
if we have a rotating field
Partie II : Differential Operators
6- LAPLACIAN
Denoted ∆, The Laplacian is defined as the divergence of the gradient.
We distinguish the Laplacian SCALAR if used for a SCALAR FIELD; it gives a SCALAR,
and the VECTOR Laplacian if it is applied to a VECTOR field; it gives a VECTOR
By associating the Laplacian with a function, we will have
By associating the Laplacian with a vector, we will have
Note: the Laplacian expresses the dynamic variation in the space of a field or a function.