Question

Give one example each of the following types of motion:
(a)linear (b) translation (c) circular (d) periodic

Answer 1

Hint: Linear motion is the type of motion in which a body moves only in one direction along a straight line path. In translation, a body can slide along many different directions simultaneously but not rotate about an internal axis. In circular motion, a body goes round a circular path while in a periodic motion, a body repeats its motion after a specific time period.

Complete answer:
Let us understand each of the types of motion given so that the example following it will be easier to comprehend.
(a) Linear motion is the type of motion where a body moves along a straight line path in one direction only. The body only has a one dimensional axis of motion in this case. A good example of linear motion is the falling of a stone when it is dropped from a height. It moves in a straight line path in the downward direction and hence performs linear motion.

(b) Translation is the type of motion in which a body can slide along many dimensions of motion simultaneously. However, it cannot rotate about any internal axis. For example, a car moving through traffic slides along many directions. However, it does not rotate about an internal axis.

(c) In circular motion, a body goes around a circular path. For example, the tips of the hands of a wall clock go around in a circular path.

(d) Periodic motion is the type of motion which repeats after a specific amount of time known as the time period. For example, the earth revolves around the sun after every 365 days, that is, it repeats its motion after every 365 days. Hence, it undergoes periodic motion.

Note:
Students must not get confused between rotational motion and circular motion. In rotational motion, a body remains fixed at one point in space and rotates about an internal axis. However, on the other hand, in circular motion, the body moves in space in such a way that it follows a circular path. In doing so, the body may or may not rotate about an internal axis, that is, it may or may not perform rotational motion.