Convert vector-field from cylindrical to cartesian

[wellmax]

Homework Statement

I have a vector field (which happens to be a magnetic field)
H = -[itex]\frac{I }{2 \pi r}[/itex]u_{[itex]\varphi[/itex]}
u_{[itex]\varphi[/itex]} is the unit vector

which is in the cylindrical coordinate system with only the [itex]\varphi[/itex] component nonzero so it circles around the z-axis. r is the radius of the circle.
the question is: write H in the cartesian coordinate system.

Homework Equations

i already know the answer through common sense but I'm not able to derive it myself:
H = [itex]\frac{-I}{2 \pi \sqrt{x^2+y^2}}[/itex][[itex]\frac{y}{\sqrt{x^2+y^2}}[/itex] - [itex]\frac{x}{\sqrt{x^2+y^2}}[/itex]]

The Attempt at a Solution

now I know these relations:
x = r Cos[[itex]\varphi[/itex]]
y = r Sin[[itex]\varphi[/itex]]
r = [itex]\sqrt{x^2+y^2}[/itex]
but i can't produce the answer with these

 

[LCKurtz]

If ##\theta## is the usual polar coordinate angle, then the unit vector in the ##r## direction is ##\langle \cos\theta, \sin\theta\rangle##. You want to rotate this vector ##90^\circ## to get a unit vector in the ##\theta## direction. So put ##\varphi = \frac \pi 2 +\theta## to get$$
\hat u_\varphi = \langle \cos(\frac \pi 2 +\theta),\sin(\frac \pi 2 +\theta)\rangle =
\langle \sin\theta,-\cos\theta\rangle = \langle \frac y r,-\frac x r\rangle =
\langle \frac y {\sqrt{x^2+y^2}},-\frac x {\sqrt{x^2+y^2}}\rangle$$

 

[wellmax]

If ##\theta## is the usual polar coordinate angle, then the unit vector in the ##r## direction is ##\langle \cos\theta, \sin\theta\rangle##. You want to rotate this vector ##90^\circ## to get a unit vector in the ##\theta## direction. So put ##\varphi = \frac \pi 2 +\theta## to get$$
\hat u_\varphi = \langle \cos(\frac \pi 2 +\theta),\sin(\frac \pi 2 +\theta)\rangle =
\langle \sin\theta,-\cos\theta\rangle = \langle \frac y r,-\frac x r\rangle =
\langle \frac y {\sqrt{x^2+y^2}},-\frac x {\sqrt{x^2+y^2}}\rangle$$

Thank you very much, this solves my question

 

[vela]

i already know the answer through common sense but I'm not able to derive it myself:
H = [itex]\frac{-I}{2 \pi \sqrt{x^2+y^2}}[/itex][[itex]\frac{y}{\sqrt{x^2+y^2}}[/itex] - [itex]\frac{x}{\sqrt{x^2+y^2}}[/itex]]

The righthand side, as you've written it, isn't a vector. Typo? It also looks like you made a sign error. Note that ##\hat{u}_\varphi = (-\sin \phi, \cos \phi,0)##. It points in the direction that ##\vec{r}## moves if you increase ##\varphi## by a small amount.

 

[wellmax]

The righthand side, as you've written it, isn't a vector. Typo? It also looks like you made a sign error. Note that ##\hat{u}_\varphi = (-\sin \phi, \cos \phi,0)##. It points in the direction that ##\vec{r}## moves if you increase ##\varphi## by a small amount.

Yes indeed a typo forgot the unit vectors
and H points in the minus [itex]\varphi[/itex] direction so i think it's alright

 

[vela]

If it points in the ##-\hat{u}_\varphi## direction, you have a sign error.

 

[wellmax]

I don't see this error and my professor didn't see it as an error either when i first handed it in so could you please elaborate a bit more?

 

[vela]

I'm not sure what's there to elaborate on. Your expression is equal to ##\frac{I}{2\pi r}\hat{u}_\varphi##, not ##-\frac{I}{2\pi r}\hat{u}_\varphi##.

 

[wellmax]

Well I plotted it in Mathematica and I rotates clockwise around the z-axis as expected so I still don't see the error

 

[vela]

According to your expression and assuming I>0, when x=y=1, for example, you have H pointing in the -x and +y direction. That's not clockwise.

 

[wellmax]

Then it will point in the +x and -y direction because there is a minus sign in front of the entire vector
H = [itex]\frac{-I}{2[itex]\pi[/itex]\sqrt{x^2+y^2}}[/itex][[itex]\frac{y}{\sqrt{x^2+y^2}}[/itex]u_x + [itex]\frac{-x}{\sqrt{x^2+y^2}}[/itex]u_y]

 

[vela]

Did you actually plug x=y=1 into that expression? Because of the minus sign out front, H points in the -x and +y directions.

 

[wellmax]

I see you are right and my professor didn't even notice