polar coordinates

noun — 3 senses

polar coordinates

noun
1

Mathematics, Sciences Plural normally The coordinates of a point in a plane, measured as its Cartesian distance from the origin and the angle measured counterclockwise from the x-axis to a line joining the point to the origin.

2

Mathematics, Sciences Plural normally A system of coordinates using such measurements to indicate position.

3

Mathematics, Sciences Plural normally The coordinates of a point in three-dimensional space, measured as its Cartesian distance from the origin, the angle measured from the z-axis to a line joining the point to the origin, and the angle measured counterclockwise from the x-axis to this line.

Related terms
Cartesian coordinates

Entry derived from the Wiktionary, under licence CC BY-SA 4.0 — list of authors.