- The most suitable set of coordinates to describe the position of an object or the state of the system
- In other words, we are aiming to reduce the number of differential equations
Example: 2-d projectile motion
Cartesian coordinates! You have a y-component, and an x component Motion in x and y is independent of each other Therefore there is 2 general equations
Example: Uniform circular motion
Polar coordinates! x is dependent on y r and theta are independent, therefore use those 2 general equations