Convert from radial / polar velocity to cartesian velocities

coordinate systemspolar coordinatestrigonometry

Suppose I have the following coordinate system:

enter image description here

My input is:

  • Radial length $\rho$
  • Radial velocity $\dot{\rho}$ (constant velocity)
  • Angle $\phi$, where $\tan(\phi) = \frac{y}{x}$

Desired output:

  • x-velocity $\dot{x}$
  • y-velocity $\dot{y}$

How do I convert the radial velocity $\dot{\rho}$ to Cartesian velocities $\dot{x}$ and $\dot{y}$?

I've already computed $x$ and $y$, but I'm not sure if they're helpful:

$
\begin{align}
\sin \phi &= \frac{opp}{hyp} = \frac{y}{\rho}\\
y &= \rho \sin \phi \\
\end{align}
$

and

$
\begin{align}
\cos \phi &= \frac{adj}{hyp} = \frac{x}{\rho}\\
x &= \rho \cos \phi
\end{align}
$

Best Answer

Since $\phi$ is constant the conversion is straightforward, indeed we simply have that

  • $\dot x=\frac{d}{dt}(\rho\cos \theta)=\dot \rho \cos \phi$
  • $\dot y=\frac{d}{dt}(\rho\sin \theta)=\dot \rho \sin \phi$