Quizzes
Quick Facts
- Related Topics:
- coordinate system
Adding us as a Preferred Source tells Google you trust our content, so our articles show up more often in your Google Search, Discover feed, and AI Overviews.
verifiedCite
While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies.
Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions.
Select Citation Style
spherical coordinate system
geometry
spherical coordinate system, In geometry, a coordinate system in which any point in three-dimensional space is specified by its angle with respect to a polar axis and angle of rotation with respect to a prime meridian on a sphere of a given radius. In spherical coordinates a point is specified by the triplet (r, θ, φ), where r is the point’s distance from the origin (the radius), θ is the angle of rotation from the initial meridian plane, and φ is the angle from the polar axis (analogous to a ray from the origin through the North Pole).
This article was most recently revised and updated by William L. Hosch.
Discover how ordinary objects work, and expand your understanding of the familiar.
" height="20" alt="HEW Logo">
By clicking "Sign Up", you consent to the Britannica Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.