What is Motion: Definition and 1000 Discussions

In physics, motion is the phenomenon in which an object changes its position over time. Motion is mathematically described in terms of displacement, distance, velocity, acceleration, speed, and time. The motion of a body is observed by attaching a frame of reference to an observer and measuring the change in position of the body relative to that frame with change in time. The branch of physics describing the motion of objects without reference to its cause is kinematics; the branch studying forces and their effect on motion is dynamics.
If an object is not changing relatively to a given frame of reference, the object is said to be at rest, motionless, immobile, stationary, or to have a constant or time-invariant position with reference to its surroundings. As there is no absolute frame of reference, absolute motion cannot be determined. Thus, everything in the universe can be considered to be in motion.Motion applies to various physical systems: to objects, bodies, matter particles, matter fields, radiation, radiation fields, radiation particles, curvature, and space-time. One can also speak of motion of images, shapes, and boundaries. So, the term motion, in general, signifies a continuous change in the positions or configuration of a physical system in space. For example, one can talk about the motion of a wave or about the motion of a quantum particle, where the configuration consists of probabilities of occupying specific positions.
The main quantity that measures the motion of a body is momentum. An object's momentum increases with the object's mass and with its velocity. The total momentum of all objects in an isolated system (one not affected by external forces) does not change with time, as described by the law of conservation of momentum. An object's motion, and thus its momentum, cannot change unless a force acts on the body.

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  1. Sihas N

    A complicated problem of motion on rough surfaces

    I couldn't draw the motion after the collision, since the whole angular displacement of the plane got me confused.
  2. A

    I Is Brownian motion a purely classical phenomenon or is it also quantm?

    A water molecule is as tiny as 0.3 Angstrom. I would expect that quantum effects play a role. I'm wondering if its Brownian motion in a fluid is determined only by classical thermodynamics or if its collisional processes must take into account also quantum scatterings or other effects like...
  3. M

    Electromagnet Polarity Switching for Reversed Motion

    I am trying to understand the differences in design between a traditional solenoid with a ferrous plunger vs linear motors that use either induction or permanent magnets. From my understanding, a traditional solenoid, whether DC or AC, cannot fire in both directions with polarity switching since...
  4. E

    I Solving Spherically Symmetric Static Star Equations of Motion

    Hi guys, I can't seem to be able to get to $$ (\rho + p) \frac {d\Phi} {dr} = - \frac {dp} {dr} $$ from $$T^{\alpha\beta}_{\,\,\,\,;\beta} = 0$$ the only one of these 4 equations (in the case of a spherically symmetric static star) that does not identically vanish is that for ##\alpha=r##...
  5. Philip551

    Solving a Motion Problem with Work-Energy Theorem

    I have been trying to solve the following problem: Point-like object at (0,0) starts moving from rest along the path y = 2x2-4x until point A(3,6). This formula gives the total force applied on the object: F = 10xy i + 15 j. a) Find the work done by F along the path, b) Find the speed of the...
  6. DioMiner

    Why does this not work? Projectile Motion problem for Dynamics Class

    TL;DR Summary: I want to mainly figure out where in the problem solving I went wrong. I understand the correct answer (since I looked it up), but to me, it does not make any sense. I am honestly stumped at this point. Online solutions say that my equation y = 0.5774x-0.003354x^2 should...
  7. Z

    Solving for Simple Harmonic Motion: A Picture Problem

    Here is a picture of the problem It is not clear to me how to really prove that the equation for ##\theta(t)## is simple harmonic motion, and what the period of this motion is.
  8. N

    Is the Instantaneous Circle Proven When Centripetal Force is Removed?

    Can someone show that the instantaneous circle is indeed given by when the centripetal force is removed? This can be found at https://www.vedantu.com/iit-jee/circular-motion
  9. uSee2

    Circular Motion with Decreasing Radius

    The answer key states that the new tangential speed is half the original speed. However, this isn't correct right? It should double. My proof: ##F_c = \frac {mv^2} R## ##F_c = F_t## ##\frac {mv^2} {\frac R 4} = \frac {m(2v)^2} R## If centripetal force were to stay constant. As such, tangential...
  10. J

    B Rotation is absolute, linear motion is relative?

    Can you explain with example what mean rotation is absolute and linear motion is relative?
  11. Shreya

    Kids on a merry-go-round & Relative Motion

    (Please refer the image below. ) The velocity of Nick ##v_N=\omega r## and the velocity of John ##v_S=\omega R## is depicted. The relative velocity of Nick with respect to John will be ##v_{NJ} = \omega (R-r)##. The velocity is along the tangent to the circle centred at B. If Nick were to move...
  12. M

    Damping and friction in syringe equation of motion

    Hello Everyone I want to model forces affecting on syringe plunger , but I do not know how to calculate terms like friction and damping coefficient. What I imagine is that : F_driving = ma + cv + f ----------------(1) where: f: friction c: coefficient of viscous damping m: mass of plunger (is...
  13. DarkEnergy890

    Bungee jump | simple harmonic motion

    As you all know, a bungee jump is where a person is tied to a cord and the person jumps off and bounces up again. The natural length of a cord is 75 metres. Then when a person is attached onto the cord, the length becomes 83 metres when the person is at rest. I am sure that the person is not...
  14. O

    Analyzing Motion: Deriving Displacement Graphs from First Principles

    Initial displacement is h above the ground ie ##s\left ( t =0\right )=h##. I've chosen the ground as the vertical origin with upwards as the positive direction. Gravity will therefore always act in negative direction throughout. Here are the graphs I which to reproduce from first principles...
  15. N

    I Calculate Length Contraction for Accelerated Motion to Proxima Centauri

    Let's assume a spaceship traveling from the Earth to the Proxima Centauri with constant acceleration g = 9.81 m/s2. The ship is accelerating the first half of the trajectory and decelerating the second half. I calculated the velocity profile from the Earth reference: The travel time on...
  16. sal1854

    I Direction of motion of particles with total spin under magnetic field

    According to Chapter 8 of Griffiths' book Introduction to Electrodynamics, the magnetization force that acts on a magnetic dipole is $$F_M=\nabla (m \cdot B)$$, where ##m## is the magnetic moment and ##B## is the magnetic field. For a paramagnetic or diamagnetic particle...
  17. Some1WhoNeedsHelp

    Calculating the motion of air cylinder

    I am stuck at A, how do you calculate the motion of the air? I know ρ=m/V but what is the mass of the air, or I got that question wrong? Thanks
  18. C

    I Analyzing Infinitesimal Motion

    Hello everyone! I was wondering about this physics problem. First example: If a rocket is traveling in a straight line continuously in uniform motions from position 0 to position 1000 in 10 seconds then it will move through an infinite number of points. Since it is always changing position...
  19. D

    I Equation of motion for a simple mechanical system

    The system is shown below. It consists of a rod of length ##L## and mass ##m_b## connecting a disk of radius ##R## and mass ##m_d## to a collar of mass ##m_c## which is in turn free to slide without friction on a vertical and rigid pole. The disk rolls without slipping on the floor. The ends...
  20. Z

    Motion with constant angular acceleration

    I am not understanding the 2nd part of the question where it is asked about how many revolutions will the blade make when it reaches full speed. Please help
  21. C

    Describing motion of a particle qualitatively

    For part (a) and (b) of this problem, The solution is, However, how did they arrive at their conclusion in part(b)? As you can't graph it on a GC, I decide to imagine plugging in values for t, which I see that the 2t^3 grows quicker than the t^2 which is why I think they said that the...
  22. Kaiser98

    Projectile motion problem – determining initial velocity of throw

    My reasoning was to use this kinematic equation to first get time of flight of the baseball using horizontal components, and then use this same equation again to find initial velocity.
  23. Sal Coombs

    Inelastic collision followed by circular motion

    Found the speed at which the masses will travel after their collision: 2.25m/s Not sure what to do next...
  24. Y

    Calculate the angular momentum of this particle in rotational motion

    i,j,k arevector I know L=P*r=m*v*r=m(acosωti+bsinωtj)*(-aωsinωti+bωcosωtj)=mabw((cos^2)ωt+(sin^2)ωt)k=mabωk. but why m(acosωti+bsinωtj)*(-aωsinωti+bωcosωtj)=mabw((cos^2)ωt+(sin^2)ωt)k.I need some detail. please help me.
  25. paulimerci

    Newton's Laws of motion -- Bicyclist pedaling up a slope

    F parallel - F applied - rolling resistance = ma I don't know how to calculate for rolling resistance. If the bicycle is not slipping rather it is rolling, should I ignore rolling resistance? And if I ignore that I would get, F parallel - F applied = ma F applied = F parallel -ma...
  26. paulimerci

    What is the difference between friction and rolling resistance?

    How to find frictional force when coefficient of friction is not given?
  27. Sagittarius A-Star

    I Twin Paradox with accelerated Motion

    Alice rests at ##X=L+1## in the inertial frame (T, X). Bob is at rest in the Rindler frame (t, x) at ##x=1## and has the proper acceleration ##\alpha=1##. In the rest frame of Alice, Bob moves from event ##E_1=(-T_2, L+1)## over the distance of ##L## in negative X-direction to event ##(0, 1)##...
  28. D

    I Equation of motion: choice of generalized coordinates

    I am looking at a textbook solution to the following problem of finding the equation of motion of a half disk. In the solution, the author considers the half disk has a COM at the black dot, and to find the instantaneous translational velocity of the center of mass (he considers rotational...
  29. Pironman

    I How to find the equation of motion using Lagrange's equation?

    Good morning, I'm not a student but I'm curious about physics. I would like to calculate the equation of motion of a system using the Lagrangian mechanics. Suppose a particle subjected to some external forces. From Wikipedia, I found two method: 1. using kinetic energy and generalized forces...
  30. sumatoken

    Study of harmonic motion of a liquid in a V shaped tube

    A V-shaped tube with a cross-section A contains a perfect liquid with mass density and length L plus and the angles between the horizontal plane and the tube arms as shown in the attached figure. We displace the liquid from its equilibrium position with a distance and without any initial...
  31. BurpHa

    Find angles such that the motion travels a specific distance

    We know the time it takes the water complete the whole parabola is (sin(x) * 6.5 * 2) / 9.8. So I come up with (sin(x) * 6.5 * 2) / 9.8 * cos(x) * 6.5 = 2.5, because the x component of the velocity is the same for the whole time. But I get the results like these: x≈0.30929171+πn,1.26150461+πn...
  32. Argonaut

    Projectile Motion on an Incline

    I worked myself into a trigonometry rut. I've tried two approaches, first by not changing the frame of reference, and second by taking the incline as the horizontal x axis. Here is my second attempt: Take the incline as the horizontal. Then the coordinates of target T are: $$ \begin{align} x_T...
  33. Elementard

    Is it possible to solve this problem without using integrals or derivatives?

    t=0 => v(0) = 4(0) - 3(0)^2 = 0m/s t=2 => v(2) = 4(2) - 3(2)^2 = -4m/s Vavg => (v(0) + v(2))/2 = -2m/s When researching the answer, I noticed that they used integrals to solve this question. The only problem is that we never learned about integrals/ derivatives or anti derivative. Is there any...
  34. Idontknowhatimdoing

    Normal force at the top of a vertical loop -- Circular Motion Dynamics

    From the equation for centripetal force, I can see that the centripetal force is proportional to v^2. Does this have something to do with why there is a normal force at the top? Does the velocity of the object require there to be a normal force? If so, why is that the case?
  35. S

    I Brownian motion of charged particles?

    If we have charged particles having Brownian motion, would this motion be associated with (or produce) heat or electricity? Would it produce electromagnetic radiation (and if it would produce it, what type of radiation in the electromagnetic spectrum)? Could there be Brownian motion of charged...
  36. Crunge

    Acceleration of the cart on a Ferris Wheel (Circular Motion)

    After 3,32 seconds, vt should have varied by 0,695*3,32. I have done a previous exercise where you only needed to calculate the radial acceleration in this scenario. There, I took the vt after the given time, squared it and then divided with the radius. I remember clearing that one, so in this...
  37. R

    I Question about the motion of a charged particle

    Hi, I have a question about the motion of a charged particle in crossed E and B fields. if B was pointing in the Z direction and E in the y direction then the component of the motion in the Z plane = 0. The only reason for this to happen is that the electric force due to the E field depends on...
  38. MatinSAR

    Relative motion with constant acceleration

    I think the question is wrong. My answer : But it should be wrong because : I think the question is wrong … But I'm not sure …
  39. yucheng

    I Why are there 2s -1 independent integrals of motion?

    I was reading Mechanics by Landau and Lifshitz and I am confused when it is stated in chapter 2 section 6 that one of the integrals of motion is not independent and it can be considered an additive constant of time. Hence I tried searching it up online...
  40. N

    Help with, I am sure, a really simple circular motion problem

    Summary: I am just trying to go through a Brilliant physics unit. I came across this axe throwing question which I don't get at all how they get the answer. You can see the answer there. So their explanation is; 'In going around the circle, the red point moves through an angle of θ =...
  41. A

    I The speed of a waves on a string in Simple harmonic motion

    The speed of a wave in simple harmonic motion on a string is $$v= \sqrt{\frac{F}{\mu}}$$ where v= the horizontal velocity of the wave on a string. Is the F the horizontal force or the resultant force (combination of Fy and Fx)?
  42. sachin

    Choosing what consists of a "system" in Newton's laws of motion

    The question is solved in a single step by taking the blocks as a system and using conservation of linear momentum in the horizontal direction as there is no net force acting in the horizontal direction. Conserving the momentum we get, m x v + M x 0 = (m+M)v', so,,v' = mv/(m +M).where v' is the...
  43. tomdodd4598

    I Equations of Motion for Massless Particle in Potential

    The Lagrangian for a massless particle in a potential, using the ##(-,+,+,+)## metric signature, is $$L = \frac{\dot{x}_\mu \dot{x}^\mu}{2e} - V,$$ where ##\dot{x}^\mu := \frac{dx^\mu}{d\lambda}## is the velocity, ##\lambda## is some worldline parameter, ##e## is the auxiliary einbein and...
  44. sachin

    Direction of motion under the influence of friction

    My assumption says,as A moves to the right,there will be kinetic friction acting on it to the left and equal and opposite friction will act on B to the right,so it should move to the right keeping the center of mass go on moving with velocity mv/(m + M) to the right as there is no net external...
  45. A

    A Explicit non-holonomic equations of motion

    In the holonomic case, we can put the Lagrangian in the Lagrange equations to obtain the explicit form of the equations of motion. From Greenwood's classical dynamics book, the equations are Are there such general equations for the non-holonomic case?
  46. sachin

    Motion of center of mass under gravity

    While solving this question I could not figure out the concept of two blocks sticking together. the question is, Two particles A and B of masses 1 kg and 2 kg respectively are projected in the directions shown in figure with speed uA =200m/s and uB =50m/s. Initially they were 90m apart. They...
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