1. What is Radial Distance?

Radial distance is the straight-line distance from the origin (0,0) to a point (x,y) in a 2D coordinate system. It represents the magnitude of the position vector and is calculated using the Pythagorean theorem.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the radial distance formula:

Where:

• \( r \) — Radial distance from origin
• \( x \) — X coordinate of the point
• \( y \) — Y coordinate of the point

Explanation: The formula calculates the hypotenuse of a right triangle formed by the x and y coordinates, giving the direct distance from the origin to the point.

3. Importance of Radial Distance Calculation

Details: Radial distance is fundamental in mathematics, physics, engineering, and computer graphics for determining magnitudes, distances, and vector lengths in 2D space.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the x and y coordinates of your point. The calculator will compute the radial distance from the origin (0,0) to your specified point.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: Can this calculator handle negative coordinates?
A: Yes, the calculator works with both positive and negative coordinates since the squares eliminate the sign.

Q2: What units are used for the result?
A: The result uses the same units as the input coordinates. If you enter x and y in meters, the radial distance will be in meters.

Q3: How is this different from Euclidean distance?
A: Radial distance is a specific case of Euclidean distance where one point is always at the origin (0,0).

Q4: Can I use this for 3D coordinates?
A: This calculator is for 2D coordinates only. For 3D coordinates, you would need to use \( r = \sqrt{x^2 + y^2 + z^2} \).

Q5: What's the maximum precision of the calculation?
A: The calculator provides results with 4 decimal places precision, but the actual precision depends on the input values.