Rotation Sequences and the Theory of Vectors and Coordinates

This book applies rotation theory to problems involving vectors and coordinates, with an approach that combines easily visualised procedures with smart mathematics. It constructs rotation theory from the ground up, building from basic geometry through to the motion and attitude equations of rockets, and the tensor analysis of relativity.

List of contents

1. Setting the scene; 2. Trigonometry, the foundation of coordinate theory; 3. The vector dot and cross products; 4. Vector preliminaries, and constructing a basis; 5. Converting vector coordinates across bases; 6. Vector rotation in two and three dimensions; 7. Rotation sequences and the fundamental theorem; 8. Coordinate systems for Earth, and more rotation sequences; 9. The role of quaternions in rotation theory; 10. Time dependence of vehicle attitude; 11. Frame dependence of the time derivative; 12. Earth's orientation in space, and time on Earth; 13. Orbital mechanics; 14. Rigid-body dynamics; 15. Modelling the motion and attitude of a vehicle; 16. Concepts of tensor analysis; Index.

About the author

Don Koks has a doctorate in quantum cosmology, with a background in pure and applied mathematics and physics, and applied accelerator physics. In his 20 years in Australian Defence he specialised in radar signal processing, spatial orientation concepts, relativistic precision timing, orbital mechanics and target tracking. His previous two books are 'Explorations in Mathematical Physics' (2006) and 'Microstates, Entropy and Quanta' (2019), both published by Springer.

Product details

• Authors: Don Koks, Koks Don
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press ELT
• Languages: English
• Product format: Hardback
• Release: 30.04.2025, delayed
• EAN: 9781009516754
• ISBN: 978-1-0-0951675-4
• No. of pages: 565
• Subjects: Natural sciences, medicine, IT, technology > Physics, astronomy > Miscellaneous; Astrophysics, SCIENCE / Physics / Mathematical & Computational, TECHNOLOGY & ENGINEERING / Aeronautics & Astronautics, Mathematical modelling, Aerospace & aviation technology, Graphical & digital media applications, Graphical and digital media applications, Aerospace and aviation technology