What Is Motion in a Straight Line?

An object is said to be in motion if it undergoes a change in position relative to its surroundings over a period of time. The phenomenon being referred to is the alteration in the spatial location of an entity as a function of the passage of time. Motion in a straight line can be described as linear motion. As indicated by its nomenclature, the object under consideration exhibits a linear configuration, thereby implying its utilisation of a sole dimension.

Types of Linear Motion

The linear motion, also called the Rectilinear Motion can be of two types:

1. Uniform linear motion
2. Non-Uniform linear motion

Linear motion refers to the simplest form of motion that occurs along a single dimension. According to Newton’s first law of motion, an object will remain at rest or maintain a constant velocity in a straight line unless acted upon by an external force.

Uniform Motion in a Straight Line

If a body travels in a straight line and covers an equal amount of distance in an equal interval of time, it is said to have uniform motion. In simple words, a body is said to have uniform acceleration if the rate of change of its velocity remains constant.

It is recommended that one avoids conflating linear motion with general motion. As previously mentioned, linear motion refers to the movement along a single dimension. However, it is generally observed that motion possesses both magnitude and direction. This means that an object’s position and velocity can be described using vector quantities.

Example – When a vehicle is moving at a velocity of 60 kilometres per hour, it will traverse a distance of 1 kilometre per minute. In this context, the motion of car acceleration exhibits uniform characteristics.

Animated Video of Motion in a Straight Line

Non-uniform Motion in a Straight Line

In contrast to uniform acceleration, non-uniform motion occurs when the velocity of an object undergoes unequal changes within equal time intervals. This implies that the rate of change of velocity varies at different instances during the object’s motion.

Formulas : Motion in a Straight Line

Also Read : What is Frame of Reference