Physics Notes - Herong's Tutorial Notes - v3.25, by Herong Yang
1 Frame of Reference with 2 Coordinate Systems
This section provides an example of a frame of reference associated with 2 coordinate systems. The location of an object can be described as 2 sets of coordinates.
A single frame of reference can be associated with multiple coordinate systems. In this case, the location of an object in the same frame of reference will have different sets of coordinates depending on which coordinate system is used.
For example, we can define a sphere coordinate system and associate it to the same frame of reference presented in the previous section:
Now we describe the same location of the space shuttle in this new sphere coordinate system as (47.29, 22.82, 30572), because:
Note that the φ angle is also called Longitude, the θ angle is also called Latitude, and the r distance minus Earth radius (6,371km) is also called Altitude. So the location of the space shuttle can also be described:
Longitude = 47.29° Latitude = 22.82° Altitude = 24,201km
Table of Contents
►Introduction of Frame of Reference
Frame of Reference with 2 Objects
2-Dimensional Cartesian Coordinate System
3-Dimensional Cartesian Coordinate System
►1 Frame of Reference with 2 Coordinate Systems
Introduction of Special Relativity
Time Dilation in Special Relativity
Length Contraction in Special Relativity
The Relativity of Simultaneity
Minkowski Spacetime and Diagrams
Introduction of Generalized Coordinates