Understanding Motion

In our day-to-day life, we can observe that either the objects are at rest or are in movement. Everything around us including fishes, birds, humans, blood, atoms, planets, molecules are in motion. So, what is motion? Oftentimes, we refer to motion as the situation when an object changes its position with time. Objects can be in motion for some and at rest for some. If we take the example of a moving bus, the trees outside the bus seem to be in motion for one who is sitting in the bus, but those outside in a stationary position will find no motion in the trees.

Definition of Motion

The Motion refers to the change in the position or orientation of a body concerning a change in time. Mainly, the motion gets on either in the aspect of a translation or a rotation in the object.

Motion can be characterised in terms of displacement, distance, speed, time, velocity, acceleration and time. Each and everything around us, be it the basic particle of matter, goes through motion. We must study the concept of Motion because it is what is present around us in our physical world in every object. 

How to identify, if the object is in motion or not?

Well, it’s pretty clear from the above definition that any movement that takes place in the object is referred to as motion. If there is a change in the present position and past position of the object, then it is obvious that motion has taken place in the object. Even if an object is at rest, it is still in motion, because the Earth on which we live goes through Rotational motion. So, motion doesn’t certainly mean a change in the position from one place to another. Motion can be both translation (motion along a line) and Rotational (change in the orientation of the body). 

Types of Motion 

There are various distinctive motions present in the objects around us. Each of them holds up with itself some of the other exclusive mechanical means. 

Linear Motion 

If an object moves either in a circular direction (curvilinear motion) or a straight line (rectilinear motion), it is referred to as linear motion. This kind of motion has significant importance in the fields of automation, manufacturing and robotics. Examples of linear motion can be a man who is running on a circular racetrack and a car running on a straight road without any obstruction. 

Rotary Motion 

You can understand this better with the example of our Earth which is continually in rotary motion around the Sun on its axis. The rotary motion refers to a motion where an object moves in a circle. Another example can be of the steering wheel in our car that undergoes Rotary Motion in its axis or place. This type of motion is crucial in cases for pneumatic and hydraulic options. 

Oscillatory Motion 

Oscillatory motion is characterized by a motion where a body moves back and forth and makes motion around its mean position. There is a repetition of the motion cycle under the oscillatory Motion. One of the most common and interesting examples is of a pendulum clock where the pendulum moves back and forth and makes motion around its mean position only. Even if there is no motion in the clock itself, the pendulum undergoes oscillatory motion. 

Periodic Motion 

Periodic Motion pertains to a motion where the object repeats its action/motion in regular time intervals. 

Examples of Periodic motion are rocking chair, a bouncing ball, water wave and a swing in motion. 

Uniform & Non-Uniform Motion 

Uniform Motion refers to a motion where an object covers equal distance in equal time intervals. On the other hand, Non-Uniform Motion refers to a kind of motion where unequal distance is covered in equal intervals of time. 

Uniform Motion Example

We can understand the concept of Uniform Motion with an example of a motorbike that covers a distance of 10 m in the first second, 10 m in the next second, 10 m in the third second, and 10 m in the fourth second. So, in this case, uniformity is maintained with a distance of 10 m more every second. Thus, it is an example of Uniform Motion. 

Non-Uniform Motion Example 

A car stuck in a traffic jam and covering unequal distances in equal time intervals is an example of Non-Uniform Motion. Another example can be of a person who is jogging in a crowded park. He is bound to get obstructed in his jogging with the crowd present in the park. So, here we will see a Non-Uniform Motion. 

Conclusion 

Thus, every object around us undergoes a certain type of motion. The concept of motion is complex as it involves various kinds of motion which can also have a combination of each other, making a different kind of motion in an object. It is necessary to have a reference point or the origin point before arriving at results if the body is in motion or not. Notably, Objects can be in motion for some and at rest for some.