OpenOlympiad
Concept 2 of 8Foundation
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Types of motion

  • Rectilinear (translatory): along a straight line — falling stone, runner on straight track.
  • Circular: along a circle — tip of a ceiling fan blade, stone tied to a string being swung.
  • Rotational: spinning about its own axis — spinning top, Earth spinning, merry-go-round.
  • Periodic (oscillatory): repeats in equal intervals — pendulum, swing, vibrating string.
  • Random: no fixed pattern — butterfly flying, dust in air.

Objects can have MULTIPLE motions at once.

Example
A rolling car tyre — rotation (spins on axle) AND translation (moves forward). A washing machine drum — rotational (spins) AND oscillatory (shakes).
RectilinearCircularPeriodicRotational
💡 Tip:Any wheel on a moving vehicle has BOTH rotational AND rectilinear motion.
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5 questions to check what you just read.

0 / 5
  1. Q1.Motion of a pendulum:
  2. Q2.A spinning top shows:
  3. Q3.A car on a straight road shows:
  4. Q4.Earth's motion around Sun is:
  5. Q5.A rolling wheel shows: