DocumentCode
1030146
Title
Extension of Euler´s theorem to n -dimensional spaces
Author
Bar-Itzhack, Itzhack Y.
Author_Institution
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD, USA
Volume
25
Issue
6
fYear
1989
fDate
11/1/1989 12:00:00 AM
Firstpage
903
Lastpage
909
Abstract
Euler´s theorem states that any sequence of finite rotations of a rigid body can be described as a single rotation of the body about a fixed axis in three-dimensional Euclidean space. The usual statement of the theorem in the literature cannot be extended to Euclidean spaces of other dimensions. Equivalent formulations of the theorem are given and proved in a way which does not limit them to the three-dimensional Euclidean space. Thus, the equivalent theorems hold in other dimensions. The proof of one formulation presents an algorithm which shows how to compute an angular-difference matrix that represents a single rotation which is equivalent to the sequence of rotations that have generated the final n -D orientation. This algorithm results also in a constant angular velocity which, when applied to the initial orientation, eventually yields the final orientation regardless of what angular velocity generated the latter. The extension of the theorem is demonstrated in a four-dimensional numerical example. The issue of the correct n -D representation of angular velocity is discussed
Keywords
classical mechanics; matrix algebra; rotating bodies; Euler´s theorem; angular-difference matrix; constant angular velocity; equivalent theorems; finite rotations; four-dimensional numerical example; n-D orientation; n-dimensional spaces; rigid body; single rotation; three-dimensional Euclidean space; Angular velocity; Councils; Equations; Modems; NASA; Position measurement;
fLanguage
English
Journal_Title
Aerospace and Electronic Systems, IEEE Transactions on
Publisher
ieee
ISSN
0018-9251
Type
jour
DOI
10.1109/7.40731
Filename
40731
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