Spherical Polar coordinate geometric diagram

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logearav

Joined Aug 19, 2011
243
Revered members,
I have attached the image i.e geometric construction for spherical polar coordinate. I understand r(x,y,z) is at the distance r from the origin and r is the position vector of the point r from the origin. \(\Phi\) is the azimuth angle. I want to know why we draw vertical line from the point r. Also what is the need for another line similar to r in the xy plane. I have denoted both these lines using red colour.
 

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steveb

Joined Jul 3, 2008
2,436
It also provides the basis for measuring the angle \(\phi\) . You need to make a projection of the point into the xy-plane to define this angle.
 
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