What is the direction of a rotation?












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We usually talk about rotations in the clockwise or counterclockwise direction. But if a rotation is just a function defined on the space, then it is all about points and their images, and there is no "direction" involved.



For example, consider the unique rotation about $(0,0)$ that sends the point $(1,0)$ to the point $(0,1)$ in the plane. Is it in the clockwise or the counterclockwise direction ?



We could say it's counterclockwise because it's a 90° turn, but we could also say it's clockwise because it's a -270° turn. The conclusion seems then that the rotation has no direction in itself.










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    We usually talk about rotations in the clockwise or counterclockwise direction. But if a rotation is just a function defined on the space, then it is all about points and their images, and there is no "direction" involved.



    For example, consider the unique rotation about $(0,0)$ that sends the point $(1,0)$ to the point $(0,1)$ in the plane. Is it in the clockwise or the counterclockwise direction ?



    We could say it's counterclockwise because it's a 90° turn, but we could also say it's clockwise because it's a -270° turn. The conclusion seems then that the rotation has no direction in itself.










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      0







      We usually talk about rotations in the clockwise or counterclockwise direction. But if a rotation is just a function defined on the space, then it is all about points and their images, and there is no "direction" involved.



      For example, consider the unique rotation about $(0,0)$ that sends the point $(1,0)$ to the point $(0,1)$ in the plane. Is it in the clockwise or the counterclockwise direction ?



      We could say it's counterclockwise because it's a 90° turn, but we could also say it's clockwise because it's a -270° turn. The conclusion seems then that the rotation has no direction in itself.










      share|cite|improve this question













      We usually talk about rotations in the clockwise or counterclockwise direction. But if a rotation is just a function defined on the space, then it is all about points and their images, and there is no "direction" involved.



      For example, consider the unique rotation about $(0,0)$ that sends the point $(1,0)$ to the point $(0,1)$ in the plane. Is it in the clockwise or the counterclockwise direction ?



      We could say it's counterclockwise because it's a 90° turn, but we could also say it's clockwise because it's a -270° turn. The conclusion seems then that the rotation has no direction in itself.







      geometry rotations orientation






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      asked Nov 29 '18 at 13:32









      SephiSephi

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          An instantaneous rotation and a continuous rotation are two different things. An instantaneous rotation has no direction. It has a before and after, and that's it.






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            An instantaneous rotation and a continuous rotation are two different things. An instantaneous rotation has no direction. It has a before and after, and that's it.






            share|cite|improve this answer


























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              An instantaneous rotation and a continuous rotation are two different things. An instantaneous rotation has no direction. It has a before and after, and that's it.






              share|cite|improve this answer
























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                An instantaneous rotation and a continuous rotation are two different things. An instantaneous rotation has no direction. It has a before and after, and that's it.






                share|cite|improve this answer












                An instantaneous rotation and a continuous rotation are two different things. An instantaneous rotation has no direction. It has a before and after, and that's it.







                share|cite|improve this answer












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                answered Nov 29 '18 at 13:43









                ArthurArthur

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