Talk:Vector fields in cylindrical and spherical coordinates

Predictably, there is a notation conflict. Given that the article on spherical coordinates would predictably end up getting written by mathematicians, while this one would predictably end up getting written by physicists (since mathematicians generally only use Cartesian coordinates), predictably the notations are different, causing confusion to anyone who clicks on spherical coordinates. The matter remains unresolved. Revolver 05:48, 28 August 2005 (UTC)

Description of φ in spherical coordinates

The description of φ says: "φ is the angle with the X-Z-plane". I would say "φ is the angle with the X-Z-plane with positive X" or something else, because otherwise the angle could be measured with a negative X, which gives a wrong angle. 80.32.129.34 12:06, 15 March 2007 (UTC)

Unit vector derivatives

is it correct to specifically call out the time derivative in those descriptions? would it not be more accurate to call out the spatial derivatives? i.e., in cylindrical coord's, dr_hat/dtheta = theta_hat. aren't the time derivatives only collapsed chain rules of the spatial derivative transformations? (dr/dt = dr/dtheta * dtheta/dt = dtheta/dt * theta_hat) ? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 64.203.249.10 (talk) 01:22, 28 September 2007 (UTC)

Comment by 65.95.78.112

COMMENT: I think the formula for φ is not correct as the arctan() function only provides values on the (-π/2;π/2) interval. As a result, I think the best is to adapt the calculation of φ to, for instance, each quadrant ([0;π/2), [π/2;π), [π;3π/2) and [3π/2;2π)). See comment in [[1]].