Types of Motion - JSS2 Basic technology Lesson Note
- Linear Motion: This is the movement in a straight line. An example is a car driving down a straight road or a ball being thrown directly forward. Linear motion is characterised by parameters such as velocity, which is the speed in a specific direction, and acceleration, which is the rate of change of velocity.
- Circular Motion: This is the movement of an object along the circumference of a circle. Examples include the motion of a ferris wheel or the orbits of planets around the sun. Circular motion involves concepts such as angular velocity, which is the rate of change of the angle, and centripetal force, which is the force that keeps the object moving in a circle.
- Oscillatory Motion: This is repetitive movement back and forth around a central point. Examples include the swinging of a pendulum or the vibration of a guitar string. Oscillatory motion is characterised by its amplitude (maximum displacement from the central position), frequency (number of oscillations per unit time), and period (time taken for one complete cycle of oscillation).