Linear motion Definition and 119 Threads

Linear motion, also called rectilinear motion, is one-dimensional motion along a straight line, and can therefore be described mathematically using only one spatial dimension. The linear motion can be of two types: uniform linear motion with constant velocity or zero acceleration; and non-uniform linear motion with variable velocity or non-zero acceleration. The motion of a particle (a point-like object) along a line can be described by its position



x


{\displaystyle x}
, which varies with



t


{\displaystyle t}
(time). An example of linear motion is an athlete running 100m along a straight track.Linear motion is the most basic of all motion. According to Newton's first law of motion, objects that do not experience any net force will continue to move in a straight line with a constant velocity until they are subjected to a net force. Under everyday circumstances, external forces such as gravity and friction can cause an object to change the direction of its motion, so that its motion cannot be described as linear.One may compare linear motion to general motion. In general motion, a particle's position and velocity are described by vectors, which have a magnitude and direction. In linear motion, the directions of all the vectors describing the system are equal and constant which means the objects move along the same axis and do not change direction. The analysis of such systems may therefore be simplified by neglecting the direction components of the vectors involved and dealing only with the magnitude.

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  1. C

    Rotation and Linear Motion Help

    Homework Statement Two masses, m1 and m2, are connected by light cables to the perimeters of two cylinders of radii, r1 and r2, respectively. The cylinders are rigidly connected to each other but are free to rotate without friction on a common axle. The moment of inertia of the pair of...
  2. T

    How Long Does It Take a Crane to Lift a Load to Maximum Velocity?

    Homework Statement hi there, really don't know how to attempt this, could someone please give guidance, thanks. a crane needs a force of 3kN to lift a mass of 6 tonne. if the load is initially at rest and the maximum velocity is 5m/s, determine the time taken to lift the load. Any help would...
  3. S

    Angular motion versus Linear motion

    We have linear & angular velocities related by: v=r.omega. & a=r.alpha On my textbook it's said" Above two equations show that on a rotating body,points that're at different distances from the axis do not have the same speed or acceleration,but all points on a rigid body rotating about a...
  4. L

    Creating a 3D Linear Motion Detection System for Scientists

    Hi, I need to make a 3d linear motion detection system for, oh... say a ball. I was thinking of setting up 3 small base stations that would ping something inside the ball and would be wired to a microcontroller that would use a triangulation algorithm to figure out the displacement of the ball...
  5. L

    How Can Video Technology Help with 3D Linear Motion Detection?

    Hi, I need to make a 3d linear motion detection system for, oh... say a ball. I was thinking of setting up 3 small base stations that would ping something inside the ball and would be wired to a microcontroller that would use a triangulation algorithm to figure out the displacement of the ball...
  6. T

    Calculating Distance of Earthquake Epicenter Using P and S Waves

    Earthquakes produce several types of shock waves. The most well-known are the P-waves (P for primary or pressure) and the S-waves (S for secondary or shear). In the Earth's crust, the P-waves travel at around 6.5 km/s while the S-waves move at about 3.5 km/s. The actual speeds vary depending on...
  7. S

    Calculating Time to Reach a Stopped Object with Linear Motion

    Hey! I have a question about the following problem: A train is traveling at 100 m/s. The engineer applies the breaks because he sees the Batmobile stuck on the tracks ahead. The breaks cause an acceleration of -2.2 m/s^2. The engineer applies the breaks when the train is 960 m from the...
  8. D

    Question Involving angular and linear motion and friction.

    Hello to all, Im new here, just found the site and wishing I had stumbled across this a few months back when I started my Electrical engineering course. I hope this is in the correct section, I did read through where to put this but apologies if I have placed this in the wrong section...
  9. W

    Linear Motion (I'm sure it is easy for all you majors out there)

    Linear Motion (I'm sure it is easy for all you out there) Okay, so I'm not really getting this problem: "A bowling ball traveling at constant speed hits the pins at the end of the lane, 20m away. If the bowler hears the "crack" of the ball hitting the pins 2.5 s after releasing the ball. If...
  10. M

    Understanding Linear Motion and Angular Momentum

    Hey again...im back with some more...these are simple questions that just boggle my mind..maybe I am just rushing myself. What is linear motion? My answer: Motion along a line Question: A small coin is halfway between the center and the outer edge of a turntable rotating at 45 rpm. What...
  11. K

    Projectile Motion + Linear Motion = Problem

    Here's the problem: A cat is chasing a mouse. The mouse runs in a straight line at a speed of 1.5 m/s. If the cat leaps off the floor at a 30 degree angle and a speed of 4.0 m/s, at what distance behind the mouse should the cat leap in order to land on the poor mouse? Now, I know I need to...
  12. E

    Rotational speed versus linear motion problem

    Here is the question: The speed of a moving bullet can be determined by allowing the bullet to pass through two rotating paper disks mounted a distance 0.921 m apart on the same axle. From the angular displacement 27.4 degrees of the two bullet holes in the disks and the rotational speed...
  13. M

    How Do You Solve Accelerated Linear Motion Problems in Physics?

    Hey Im having some trouble with this Accelerated Linear Motion question. I don't have any clue where i should even start with part (B). Im just lost, don't have a clue where to start. My head just starts to go into overload when i even think about it. Please help!
  14. M

    Help with Acc Linear Motion: Part 1 & 2, Part B: Prove u > 9.8

    Hey Just need a little help with *another* accelerated linear motion question, any help is appreciated: (A) A particle starts from rest at a point p and accelerates at 2m/s^2 until it reaches a speed v m/s. It travels at this speed for one minute before delerating at 1m/s^2 to rest at q...
  15. M

    How Can Linear Motion Equations Explain Particle Dynamics and Car Acceleration?

    Hey Ok, so I am having troule with yet another accelerated linear motion question... any help is desperately needed and very much appreciated :) So here it goes: (A) A particle is projected vertically upwards with velocityum/s and is at a height h after t1 and t2 seconds respectively...
  16. M

    Help with Linear Motion Questions: Acc, Velocity, & Speed-Time Graphs

    Ok, so I am having troule with yet another accelerated linear motion question... i got a 40% on my last exam, and i need at least a 90% on this one to keep a decent average... any help is desperately needed and very much appreciated :) So here it goes: (A) A particle is projected vertically...
  17. M

    When Will the Cars Collide? A Problem in Accelerated Linear Motion

    If anybody could offer any help with this id be eternally gratefull Two cars A and B, each 5m in length, travel with constant velocity 20 m/s along a straight level road. The front of car A is 15m directly behind the rear of car B. Immediately on reaching a point P, each car decelerates at...
  18. M

    Collision of Two Cars with Constant Velocity and Deceleration

    Hey Id really appreciate any help anybody can give me with this problem, its urgently needed and very very important, I've been stuck on it for about an hour and don't even know where to start: Two cars A and B, each 5m in length, travel with constant velocity 20 m/s along a straight level...
  19. M

    Will Car A Collide with Car B After Deceleration?

    Hey, id greatly appreciate any urgent help you can give me with this problem Two cars A and B, each 5m in length, travel with constant velocity 20 m/s along a straight level road. The front of car A is 15m directly behind the rear of car B. Immediately on reaching a point P, each car...
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