Today's lecture in intro mechanics is a whirlwind survey of vectors. While I struggle to clear my head enough to be able to teach this stuff, here's a Dorky Poll to pass the time:
This is a strictly classical subject, so please choose only one.
- Log in to post comments
More like this
I'm teaching Quantum Optics again this term, talking about the interaction between light and matter in circumstances where you need to account for the quantum nature of one or both of those. We're starting on the actual interactions today, albeit with a semi-classical approach (Einstein…
Today's Quantum Optics lecture is about quantum computing experiments, and how different types of systems stack up. Quantum computing, as you probably know if you're reading this blog, is based on building a computer whose "bits" can not only take on "0" and "1" states, but arbitrary superpositions…
I wanted to test whether I can put links into PollDaddy poll items for the Laser Smackdown wrap-up tomorrow, so I needed a test poll. But, of course, if I'm going to go to the trouble, I might as well post it, so here's a dorky poll inspired by the fact that the book I'm using for Quantum Mechanics…
It's going to be a very busy day, in ways that will keep me away from the Internet for most of the day, so you'll need to entertain yourselves. Here's a question for the science-minded:
What's your favorite science textbook of all time?
It could be your favorite book from when you were a student,…
Doesn't this depend on what you're doing? Whether Cartesian vs. Polar variants are the more appropriate depends on the problem you're trying to solve if my extremely rusty calculus isn't leading me astray.
Personally, I prefer ECEF or ENU, depending on the problem.
Parabolic, for the Stark effect.
I usually don't have to worry about a radius, but spherical is the only way to go - stereonets rule!
In the interest of full disclosure, I'm a structural geologist and a fondness for such things is an occupational hazard.
Though usually I work in 2 dimensions and let the contractor sort out the 3rd (as there are standards that govern it they can't really do it wrong).
You missed an option: I object to the poll, because I have the sense to pick a coordinate system appropriate to the situation :-P
Eddington-Finkelstein-coordinates of course!
You definitely want to use spherical coordinates when doing projectile motion with a = -g j-hat ...
I object to this poll because the radial coordinate in cylindrical geometry is _s_, not r.