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JEE Main 2026 Preparation: Question Papers, Solutions, Mock Tests & Strategy Unacademy » Difference Between » Circular and Rotational Motion

Circular and Rotational Motion

In this article we will talk about motion, definitions of circular and rotational motions and aspects of them, also we will discuss about difference between circular and rotational motion

Table of Content
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The words circular motion and rotational motion both describe the motion of a body around a given point in rigid-body dynamics, but there is a distinction between the two motions. The primary distinction between circular and rotational motion is that circular motion is a subset of rotational motion in which the distance between the body’s centre of mass and the axis of rotation remains constant.

Perhaps a more useful distinction to establish is between rotational and orbital motion. Even in that more extended scenario (orbital may not be circular), the properties required to describe and evaluate the motions remain the same: axis of motion, angular momentum, moment of inertia, kinetic energy, torque, and so on.

There isn’t a clear distinction between the two, but in general, rotational motion refers to things that are stretched (rather than points) and rotate around an axis that is either within the object’s material or not farther from the centre of mass than the object’s farthest dimension.

DEFINITION

The motion around a fixed point is referred to as rotation or rotational motion. A line perpendicular to the plane in which the body is moving passes through this fixed point, forming an axis of rotation. Rotation around a fixed axis, precession (when the orientation of the rotation axis varies), and nutation are all examples of rotational motion (where the axis of rotation wobbles).

Circular motion is a type of rotational motion in which the distance between the rigid body’s centre of mass and the axis of rotation remains constant while the rigid body moves in a plane. Circular motion can simply be defined as movement along a circle’s circumference.

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN CIRCULAR AND ROTATIONAL MOTION

In the study of motion in physics, circular motion and rotational motion are two distinct types of motion. Despite the similarities between the two types of motions, there are significant variances that must be explained. The concepts involved in a circular and rotational motion are often misunderstood. The contrasts will be highlighted in this essay to help readers understand the topic.

Circular motion is defined as the motion of a body in a circular orbit around another body. The motion of the moon around the earth in a circular orbit, for example, is an example of circular motion.

The stone is supposed to be in a circular motion if you tie it with string and start rotating it around yourself. On the other hand, you’re considered to be in a rotational motion if you’re going around on an axis. As a result, rotational motion is defined as one that revolves around an axis. A toy train running on a circular track is considered to have circular motion, however if you drive your automobile on a circular track, it has both circular and rotational motion since the car’s tires are rotating around an axis, which is its axle.

You’ve probably seen children spinning their beyblades. These items have a rotational motion because they spin rapidly around an axis. A spinning item has solely rotational motion if it does not move from its position; but, if it moves in an orbit, it is considered to have both types of motion. When travelling in an orbit around the sun, the Earth experiences both circular and rotational motion. Day and darkness on Earth are caused by circular motion, whereas weather is caused by rotating motion.

It only has to move in a circle to be considered ‘circular motion.’ A toy train on a circular track, for example, moves in a circular manner. In order for something to have ‘rotational motion,’ it must be rotating around something (called an axis). A toy train on a track, in general, does not have an axis around which it rotates, hence it does not have rotational motion. A car’s wheel, on the other hand, spins around the axle and hence has rotational motion. In this case, if you pick a single point on the wheel’s edge, you might also say it moves in a circular motion.

  • If a motion moves in a circular path with an arbitrary radius, it is said to be in circular motion; the radius of the circular path does not change with time; it is a constant value. In uniform circular motion, the direction of velocity always changes while the magnitude remains constant
  • A rotatory motion is a rotational motion in which a body spins continuously around an axis. However, the main distinction between circular and rotatory motion is that in circular motion, the body spins around a fixed axis that is outside the body, but in rotational motion, the body’s axes of rotation are inside the body

A motion is said to be in circular motion if it goes in a circular path with an arbitrary radius; the radius of the circular path does not change with time; it is a constant value. The direction of velocity changes in uniform circular motion, but the magnitude remains constant.

A rotating motion in which a body spins constantly around an axis is known as a rotatory motion. The major difference between circular and rotatory motion is that in circular motion, the body rotates around a fixed axis that is outside the body, but in rotational motion, the body’s rotating axes are inside the body.

CONCLUSION

Circular motion is a subset of rotational motion, which means that each constituent of a rotating rigid body rotates in a circle around a fixed axis of rotation. To put it another way, each particle on a rigid body moves in a circular motion.

The object in a circular motion just moves in a circle. Artificial satellites, for example, orbit the Earth at a fixed altitude. The item rotates around an axis in rotational motion. The Earth, for example, rotates on its own axis.

faq

Frequently asked questions

Get answers to the most common queries related to the JEE Examination Preparation.

Is there a difference between rotational and circular motion?

Ans: The object in a circular motion just moves in a circle. Artificial satellites, for example, orbit the Earth at ...Read full

Is it possible to translate circular motion?

Ans: Circular motion occurs when all of a body’s particles travel around the diameter of a circle. Translatory...Read full

What is the difference between rotatory and oscillatory motion?

Ans: When something moves in a circle, it’s called rotational motion. For example, if I swung a ball on a stri...Read full

What factors influence rotational motion?

Ans: Torque is determined by three factors: the size of the force, the direction of the force, and the point of appl...Read full

What are the requirements for circular motion?

Ans: If every particle in the body moves in a circle around a single line, this is known as pure rotational motion. ...Read full

Ans: The object in a circular motion just moves in a circle. Artificial satellites, for example, orbit the Earth at a fixed altitude. The item rotates around an axis in rotational motion.

Ans: Circular motion occurs when all of a body’s particles travel around the diameter of a circle. Translatory motion occurs when all of a body’s particles move in a straight line or along a curved fixed path.

Ans: When something moves in a circle, it’s called rotational motion. For example, if I swung a ball on a string, it’s called rotational motion. When anything oscillates back and forth, it is called oscillating motion.

Ans: Torque is determined by three factors: the size of the force, the direction of the force, and the point of application. The moment of inertia is determined by mass and its distribution relative to the rotation axis. While the analogies are accurate, the rotational numbers are influenced by a variety of factors.

Ans: If every particle in the body moves in a circle around a single line, this is known as pure rotational motion. The axis of rotation is the name given to this line. Then, at the same moment, the radius vectors from the axis to all particles undergo the same angular displacement. The rotational axis does not have to pass through the body.

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