when are polar coordinates used in real life
They are used often in navigation as the destination or direction of travel can be given as an angle and distance from the object being considered
Polar coordinate system
Polar coordinates are used often in navigation as the destination or direction of travel can be given as an angle and distance from the object being considered
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Polar coordinate system [SEP] Position and navigation
Polar coordinates are used often in navigation as the destination or direction of travel can be given as an angle and distance from the object being considered. For instance, aircraft use a slightly modified version of the polar coordinates for navigation. In this system, the one generally used for any sort of navigation, the 0° ray is generally called heading 360, and the angles continue in a clockwise direction, rather than counterclockwise, as in the mathematical system. Heading 360 corresponds to magnetic north, while headings 90, 180, and 270 correspond to magnetic east, south, and west, respectively. Thus, an aircraft traveling 5 nautical miles due east will be traveling 5 units at heading 90 (read zero-niner-zero by air traffic control).