Answer to Question #213655 in Mechanics | Relativity for anuj

Question

the cartesian coordinates of a point are given by (x,y)=(-2.5,-3.5) meters. Find the polar coordinates of this point?

Answer 1

The polar coordinates are given as follows:

$$r = \sqrt{x^2 + y^2}\\ \theta = \arctan\dfrac{y}{x}$$

where $x,y$ are the cartesian coordinates. Thus, obtain:

$$r = \sqrt{(-2.5)^2 + (-3.5)^2} \approx 4.3\\ \theta = \arctan\dfrac{-3.5}{-2.5} \approx 234\degree$$