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Velocity Vector in Polar Coordinates

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Community discussion Consider a particle p moving in the plane.
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Recent changes Let the position of p at time t be given in polar coordinates as ⟨r, θ⟩ .
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Then the velocity v of p can be expressed as:
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A
dθ dr
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v = r uθ + ur
commands dt dt

where:
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Proof Index ur is the unit vector in the direction of the radial coordinate of p
Definition Index uθ is the unit vector in the direction of the angular coordinate of p
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All Categories Let the radius vector r from the origin to p be expressed as:
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(1) : r = ru r
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From Derivatives of Unit Vectors in Polar Coordinates:

du r
(2) : = uθ
dθ

du θ
(3) : = −u r
dθ

The velocity of p is by definition the rate of change in its position:

dr
v =
dt

du r dr
= r + ur from (1) and Product Rule for Derivatives
dt dt

du r dθ dr
= r + ur Chain Rule for Derivatives
dθ dt dt

dθ dr
= r uθ + ur substituting from (2) and (3)
dt dt

Sources
1972: George F. Simmons: Differential Equations ... (previous) ... (next): §3.21 : Newton's Law of Gravitation: (4)

Categories: Proven Results Polar Coordinates

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