Rotational Motion & Types of Motion

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms related to translational and rotational motion, types of circular motion, and characteristics of rotation axes.

Translational Motion

Motion in which every point of an object moves the same distance in a given time, resulting in a change of position.

Rotational Motion

Motion in which an object spins about an internal or external axis.

Axis of Rotation

The line—real or imaginary—about which a body rotates.

Straight-Line (Linear) Translational Motion

A type of translational motion where the path of the object is a straight line.

Circular Translational Motion

A type of translational motion where the object follows a circular path around another point, e.g., Earth orbiting the Sun.

Uniform Circular Motion

Circular motion with constant speed; magnitude of velocity is unchanged.

Non-Uniform Circular Motion

Circular motion in which the speed of the object changes along its path.

Horizontal Circular Motion

Circular motion that occurs in a plane of constant height, so gravitational potential energy remains the same throughout the path.

Vertical Circular Motion

Circular motion that occurs in a vertical plane, involving varying heights and gravitational potential energy changes.

Real Axis (of Rotation)

A physical line passing through the rotating body (e.g., the central shaft of a Ferris wheel).

Imaginary Axis

An abstract line about which an object appears to rotate, but no physical shaft exists (e.g., the spin axis of a planet).

Fixed Axis

An axis of rotation that remains stationary relative to the ground or a chosen frame of reference.

Moving Axis

An axis that translates with the object during motion, as in a ball thrown through the air.

Ferris Wheel Axis

A fixed, real axis running horizontally through the center of the wheel, perpendicular to its plane.

Fan Axis

A fixed, real axis along the motor shaft about which the blades rotate.

Planetary Spin Axis

An imaginary axis passing through a planet’s poles around which the planet rotates.

Ball in Flight (Axis)

Example of a moving, imaginary axis that travels with the ball during translational motion.