Rectilinear motion refers to the motion of an object along a straight line. This means that the object is moving in one direction and does not deviate from that path.
Rectilinear motion occurs when an object moves along a straight line, while curvilinear motion occurs when an object moves along a curved path. Rectilinear motion is simpler to analyze and calculate, while curvilinear motion involves more complex calculations.
The key variables in rectilinear motion are displacement, velocity, and acceleration. Displacement is the change in position of the object, velocity is the rate of change of displacement, and acceleration is the rate of change of velocity.
Rectilinear motion can be represented using equations such as s = ut + 1/2at^2 for displacement, v = u + at for velocity, and a = (v-u)/t for acceleration. Here, s represents displacement, u represents initial velocity, v represents final velocity, a represents acceleration, and t represents time.
Some examples of rectilinear motion in everyday life include a car moving along a straight road, a person walking in a straight line, and a ball falling vertically to the ground. These all involve motion along a straight line with constant or changing velocity and acceleration.
