Cross product "matrix", then it can be generalized in an arbitrary number of dimensions. In mechanics, for example, the angular velocity can be interpreted either as a pseudovector formula_167 or as a anti-symmetric matrix or skew-symmetric tensor formula_168. In the latter case, the velocity law for a rigid body looks: where Ω is formally defined from the rotation matrix formula_170 associated to body's frame: formula_171 In three-dimensions holds: In quantum mechanics the angular momentum formula_173 is often represented as an anti-symmetric matrix or tensor. More precisely, it is the result of cross product involving position formula_174 and linear momentum formula_111: Since both
Angular velocity is formula_5, and the linear velocity is formula_6, so that formula_7. In the general case of a particle moving in the plane, the angular velocity is measured relative to a chosen center point, called the origin. The diagram shows the radius vector r from the origin "O" to the particle "P", with its polar coordinates formula_8. (All variables are functions of time "t".) The particle has linear velocity splitting as formula_9, with the radial component formula_10 parallel to the radius, and the cross-radial (or tangential or circular) component formula_11 perpendicular to the radius. When there is no radial component, the