Re: Choosing Coordinate Systems

["RAUBER, JOEL" <JOEL_RAUBER@SDSTATE.EDU>]

I say what you say, and then mention that practice helps to develope a sense
for it.

Also, what is usually easier are coordinate systems that have as many
vectors as possible parallel to a coordinate axes; in particular ones that
have the Acceleration parallel to a coordinate axis are often easiest to
work with.

Joel

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Tina Fanetti [mailto:FanettT@QUEST.WITCC.CC.IA.US]
> Sent: Monday, September 24, 2001 12:01 PM
> To: PHYS-L@lists.nau.edu
> Subject: Choosing Coordinate Systems
>
>
> When you doing force problems/examples for your students, how
> do you explain why you choose the coordinate system you do?
> I told them I pick the coordinate system that will make it easy.
>
> Actaully a more appropriate way to see this is the
> orientation of the coordinate axis.  We are only using x-y
> coordinates at this point.
>
> TIna
>
> Tina Fanetti
> Physics Instructor
> Western Iowa Technical Community College
> 4647 Stone Ave
> Sioux City IA 51102
> 712-274-8733 ext 1429