Generalized coordinates

Generalized coordinates are like labels for points in space. They tell us how far away something is in space, but instead of giving it a number like meters or inches, each point has its own label, or coordinate. For example, you can use three labels, like x, y, and z, to tell us how far away something is from the center in three directions. This lets us specify any point in space, no matter how complicated or strange it is.