Exercise · ZW-PHASE-PLANE-010 · ★★★ Advanced
In \(x'=y,\ y'=-x\), in which sense are the circular trajectories traversed?
Choose one option.
A Counterclockwise B Clockwise C Toward the origin D Away from the origin
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Explanation At \((1,0)\) the velocity is \((x',y')=(0,-1)\): it points down, and to the right of the origin that is clockwise. In general \(xy'-yx'=-(x^2+y^2)<0\).
Coordinate plane \((x,y)\) of an autonomous system whose velocities \(f\) and \(g\) do not depend on \(t\); each solution is drawn there as a curve, its trajectory .
\[x'=f(x,y),\quad y'=g(x,y)\;\Longrightarrow\;\dfrac{dy}{dx}=\dfrac{g(x,y)}{f(x,y)}\quad(f\neq0)\]
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