Overview
Like Cartesian coordinates, polar coordinates are used to identify the locations of points in the plane. The polar coordinate system will be useful for many problems you encounter at MIT, such as those involving circular motion or radial forces.
Lecture Video and Notes
Video Excerpts
» Clip 1: Introduction to Polar Coordinates (00:07:00)
From Lecture 32 of 18.01 Single Variable Calculus, Fall 2006
Clip 1: Introduction to Polar Coordinates
> Download from iTunes U (MP4 - 109MB)
> Download from Internet Archive (MP4 - 109MB)
» Clip 2: Simple Examples in Polar Coordinates (00:06:00)
From Lecture 32 of 18.01 Single Variable Calculus, Fall 2006
Clip 2: Simple Examples in Polar Coordinates
> Download from iTunes U (MP4 - 109MB)
> Download from Internet Archive (MP4 - 109MB)
» Clip 3: Translating y = 1 into Polar Coordinates (00:04:00)
From Lecture 32 of 18.01 Single Variable Calculus, Fall 2006
Clip 3: Translating y = 1 into Polar Coordinates
> Download from iTunes U (MP4 - 109MB)
> Download from Internet Archive (MP4 - 109MB)
» Clip 4: Equation of an Off-Center Circle (00:05:00)
From Lecture 32 of 18.01 Single Variable Calculus, Fall 2006
Clip 4: Equation of an Off-Center Circle
> Download from iTunes U (MP4 - 109MB)
> Download from Internet Archive (MP4 - 109MB)
Recitation Video
Converting From Polar to Rectangular Coordinates
> Download from iTunes U (MP4 - 19MB)
> Download from Internet Archive (MP4 - 19MB)