Questions tagged [rotations]

This tag is for questions about rotations: a type of rigid motion in a space.

In 2-dimensional and 3-dimensional Euclidean space, the rotation is a type of distance-preserving linear transformation that has a fixed point and preserves orientation. In terms of the usual inner product $\langle\cdot,\cdot\rangle$ on $\Bbb R^2$ and $\Bbb R^3$, rotations are the transformations $T$ such that $\langle Tx,Ty\rangle=\langle x,y\rangle$ for all $x,y$, and the determinant of $T$ is equal to 1.

Geometrically, the rotation in $\Bbb R^2$, "spins" the plane around a point without flipping the plane or sliding it. In $\Bbb R^3$, a rotation fixes a line (called the axis of rotation) and "spins" the space around this line (without reflecting or sliding).

More generally, given an inner product space $V$ over a field $\Bbb F$, anything in the part of the orthogonal group connected to the identity can be considered a "rotation." This allows rotations to be defined for $\Bbb R^n$ for $n$ greater than 2 and 3, as well as vector spaces over fields other than $\Bbb R$.

As an example, the space $\Bbb R^4$ with a non-Euclidean metric $(1,1,1,-1)$ is Minkowski space which is a model for special relativity. Rotations still play an important role here beyond that of rotations in the spacial coordinates. For example, Lorentz transformations are rotations which move the time coordinate.

Rotations can also be represented in terms of matrices and the tag often goes with this tag, as questions can pertain to rotation matrices.

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What is the rule for rotations about a point not the origin?

I know the rules for $90^\circ$(counterclockwise and clockwise) rotations, and $180^\circ$ rotations, but those are only for rotations about the origin. What is the rule for a rotation above that is not about the origin? By rule, I mean this: $(x,…
Shiv
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All possible "simple transformations" to align two right-handed coordinate systems?

I have two right-handed coordinate systems that are off by some unknown transformation. I know this transformation is "simple": It consists of only rotations of 0/90/180/270 degrees around the standard $x$-, $y$-, and/or $z$-axis. I want to…
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Are Euler angle figures wrong?

In the typical Euler angle figure one sees three angles represented as turns along three orthogonal axis. If I understand correctly, Euler angles parameterize a rotation with an order. Meaning that once the first rotation is done (say for Roll) then…
benr
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Calculate Rotation matrix to align two 3D vectors

I found a solution to find the rotation matrix to align two 3D vectors : Calculate Rotation Matrix to align Vector A to Vector B in 3d? In the given solution, the formula is very close to the one given for Rodrigues's rotation matrix formula…
AlixL
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Euler angles between three coordinate systems. Euler rotations. Rotation group.

The problem I am having three coordinate systems $(X,Y,Z)$, $(x,y,z)$ and $(\hat x, \hat y, \hat z)$ in $\mathbb R^3$, which can be mapped into each other by Euler rotations. I will refer to them in short as the $X$, $x$ and $\hat x$ system,…
Britzel
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Rotation in 4D, number of axes required

I've noticed that rotation can be interpreted in 2 different manors. Does rotation occur about an axis, or through a pair of axes? What I would like to know is in 4D are there 4 fundamental rotations (one about each axis) or are there 6 fundamental…
Ben Crossley
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What do rotations in four dimensions behave like?

Thinking about rotations of a 3D sphere- We first choose an axis. Then the whole sphere can be thought of as an infinite number of circles, perpendicular to the axis, stacked on top of each other. When we rotate the sphere about the axis, the points…
Ryder Rude
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Find all vectors $(x,y)$ whose image under rotation $\frac\pi3$ is $(y,x)$

Find all vectors (x,y) whose image under rotation through the angle $\pi/3$ about the origin is (y,x). Using the appropriate rotation matrix I found that x=y. What do I need to do now to find the answer?
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Composition of Euler angles

I have a problem in which I apply a sequence of $N$ rotations, each one of different angles $\theta_1,...,\theta_N$. But my angle here are associated to rotations around either $x$ or $y$ axis in the following…
StarBucK
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Extrinsic rotations: Angular rates vs derivative of Euler angles

If I'm dealing with extrinsic Euler angles are the Euler rates equal to the angular rates? This seems logical to me because there aren't any intermediate frames; however, I'm instead only seeing this formula for body…
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Proof involving the rotation of a line through angle $\alpha$

Show that if a line l is rotated about any point O through an angle with measure $\alpha$ to a new line l$’$, then lines l and l$’$ intersect in an angle with measure $\alpha$. I have been attempting to solve this problem, but am not too sure how to…
Jamminermit
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Solve a system of rotation matrices z-x-z == z-x-y

I have the following equation I would like to solve (I'm looking for: r1, s2 and s3): rotz(-r1) * rotx(90 + s2) * rotz(s3) = rotz(-alpha) * rotx(beta) * roty(gamma) where: - rotx(), roty() and rotz() are respectively rotation matrices around x, y…
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Euclidean Transformation

Given 2 squares in the same plane join any corner of one square to a corner of the other square. Continue joining corners going in the same direction(clockwise or anticlockwise). Using only rotation, translation and symmetry concepts can you prove…
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Rotating a regular tetrahedron so it looks like an egyptian pyramid?

I have been able to easily create a mesh of a regular tetrahedron thanks to this answer: However, as you can see, it looks like it's sitting on one of its edges, what I was looking for was for it to be orientated like an egyptian pyramid, i.e.…
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Is it possible to combine two sequential rotations about different points into one rotation about a point?

I need to perform two sequential rotations, about different points, by different angles. Call the initial point $A$, and the final solution after the two rotations $A'$. Call the two centers of rotation $C_1$ and $C_2$. Call the two angles…