Motion. Types of Motion

In these revision notes for Motion. Types of Motion, we cover the following key points:

• The meaning of motion
• Classification of motion according to the moving rhythm (intensity)
• Classification of motion according to the path

Motion. Types of Motion Revision Notes

In Physics, anything that keeps changing its LOCATION with respect to TIME is said to be in motion. Mathematically, Motion is described in terms of displacement, distance, velocity, acceleration, speed, and time.

In Physics, Motion is classified according to two main criteria:

1. According to the moving intensity (rhythm), and
2. According to the path's shape

The first category is further divided into more specific sub-categories, which are shown in the scheme below.

Thus, if an object moves at the same intensity (rhythm) there is a uniform motion. If it speeds up (increases its moving rhythm) we say the object is experiencing an accelerated motion and if it slows down (reduces its moving rhythm) we say it is experiencing a decelerated motion.

Further, if the increase (decrease) in the moving rhythm remains unchanged during the entire process, there is a uniformly accelerated (decelerated) motion. Otherwise, it is non-uniformly accelerated (decelerated) motion.

As for the classification of motion according to the path's shape, we have the following sub-categories:

Rectilinear (in short Linear) Motion

This is a kind of motion, in which the object moves in a straight line.

Circular (Rotatory) Motion

In this kind of motion, the object moves in a circular path, i.e. it revolves around a fixed point (the centre) at the same distance (radius r) from it.

Curvilinear Motion

Curvilinear Motion describes an object moving according along a curved path.

Vibratory (Vibrational) Motion

This is a back and forth motion around a fixed point, which is known as the "equilibrium position".

Projectile Motion (Ballistics)

This kind of motion typically occurs when we throw an object at an angle different from 00 and 900 to the horizontal direction. The trajectory of a projectile is parabolic due to the attraction effect of gravity.

Elliptic Motion

This kind of motion describes and object moving according an elliptic path.

Combined Motion

If two or more of the abovementioned motions are combined, other types of trajectory (which are worth to mention) are created. Some of them include:

Oscillatory Motion

This kind of motion is a combination of circular and vibratory ones. That is, the object swings around an equilibrium position but not in a straight line.

Wavy (sinusoidal) Motion

In this kind of motion there is a combination of rectilinear and vibrational ones.