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. C

    B How to calculate travel time as a function of distance

    I need help calculating travel time as a function of distance using drag equation: F_drag = crossection area * density * ballistic coefficient * 0.5 * v^2. Not posted in homework cause it's not, and I don't know how to solve integrals so I could not fill solution attempt box
  2. S

    Relationship between Launch height and range of a projectile

    Homework Statement In a practical that we conducted, we were investigating the relationship between Launch height and the range (horizontal distance it travels) of a projectile. We launched a projectile from various heights and measured the horizontal range it traveled before reaching the...
  3. MIIF

    Is it possible to find dy given the values of dx and v?

    Homework Statement This isn't really a homework problem/question. I am just wondering if it is possible to calculate the vertical distance (dy) when the only given values are those of the horizontal distance (dx) and velocity (v). An example of this projectile-motion problem would be this: A...
  4. stevendaryl

    Insights Rindler Motion in Special Relativity: Hyperbolic Trajectories - Comments

    Greg Bernhardt submitted a new PF Insights post Rindler Motion in Special Relativity: Hyperbolic Trajectories Continue reading the Original PF Insights Post.
  5. Alexanddros81

    Particle Motion; Graphical Method

    Homework Statement A particle moves in a straight line with the acceleration shown in the figure. Knowing that it starts from the origin with ##v_0 = -14ft/s##, plot the v-t and x-t curves for 0 < t < 15 s and determine (a) the maximum value of the velocity of the particle, (b) the maximum...
  6. lc99

    Simple Harmonic Motion with Linear Momentum

    Homework Statement Homework Equations T = 2pi * sqrt(m/k) mv =m2v2 (LM)[/B]The Attempt at a Solution [/B] So T2 depends on the mass and not velocity. So i can find T2 = 2pi * sqrt([m/2]/k) For A2 , i know that the amplitude before any collision is 1/2m1v1^2 = 1/2kA1^2 so solving that, i...
  7. Alexanddros81

    Solving for Car Speed and Stopping Time in a Braking Scenario

    Homework Statement 11.9 The brakes of a car are applied, causing it to slow down at a rate of ##10 ft/s^2##. Knowing that the car stops in 300 ft, determine (a) how fast the car was traveling immediately before the brakes were applied, (b) the time required for the car to stop Homework...
  8. Alexanddros81

    Particle Motion; Acceleration directly proportional to time

    Homework Statement 11.10 The acceleration of a particle is directly proposional to the time t. At t = 0, the velocity of the particle is v = 16 in./s. Knowing that v = 15 in./s and that x = 20 in. when t = 1 s, determine the velocity, the position, and the total distance traveled when t = 7s...
  9. Alexanddros81

    Particle Motion: Zero Velocity and Distance Traveled at x=0

    Homework Statement 11.8 The motion of a particle is defined by the relation ##x=t^3 - 6t^2 - 36t - 40, where x and t are expressed in feet and seconds, respectively. Determine (a) when the velocity is zero, (b) the velocity, the acceleration, and the total distance traveled when x = 0...
  10. P

    Blocking the symmetry of motion and the second law

    Hi, The article below states that they made a material that blocks the motion of molecules in only one way but passing the other way is possible. See the article. https://physicsworld.com/a/blocking-the-symmetry-of-motion/ This seems to me in contrast with the second law. You can for example...
  11. Alexanddros81

    Motion of a particle and zero velocity

    Homework Statement 11.7 The motion of a particle is defined by the relation ##x = 2t^3 - 15t^2 + 24t + 4 where x is expressedin meters and t in seconds. Determine (a) when the velocity zero , (b) the position and the total distance traveled when the acceleration is zero Homework EquationsThe...
  12. Alexanddros81

    The motion of a particle is defined by the relation

    Homework Statement The motion of a particle is defined by the relation ##x = 6t^4 - 2t^3 - 12t^2 + 3t + 3##, where x and t are expressed in meters and seconds, respectively. Detrmine the time, the position, and the velocity when a = 0. Homework EquationsThe Attempt at a Solution [/B] Can...
  13. Brilli

    Does a man jumping off a rolling cylinder affect its velocity?

    Homework Statement Given a cylinder is rolling purely and a man with mass m is attatched to a point in the circumference of the cylinder. As the man approaches the lowest point he jumps vertically up. Will the velocity of the cylinder increase, decrease or remain same after the man is detached...
  14. Fia Ismi Nur Alfiah

    Newtonian Mechanics : Rectillinear Motion of a Particle

    Homework Statement Find the velocity ± and the position x as functions of the time t for a particle of mass m, which starts from rest at x =0 and t =0, subject to the following force functions: (a) Fx = F0 + Ct (b) Fx = F0 sin Ct Ct (c) Fx = F0e^ct where F0 and c are positive constants...
  15. J

    Rotational Motion and Torque problem

    Homework Statement A thin rod of length ' L' lies on the + x-axis with it's left-end at the origin. A string pulls on the rod with a force 'F' directed towards a point 'P' a distance 'h' above the rod. Where along the rod should you attach the string to get the greatest Torque about the...
  16. Pushoam

    Obtaining the equation of motion using analytical mechanics

    Let's consider a particle moving along x – axis, its position at t = 1s is 1m and speed is 1 m/s. How can one calculate acceleration on the basis of this information?
  17. D

    Master 2D Circular Motion with Our Expert Homework Solution!

    Homework Statement Homework Equations V^2=rgtan The Attempt at a Solution V^2=.24x9.8xtan25
  18. House

    Accelerating motion with a pulley

    Let's suppose we have a body A with mass M that can move on a horizontal frictionless ground. Now we connect that with another body B, mass m, with the help of a rope. The body B can move vertically and the rope is curved with a pulley. Now we set the body B free to move. What's the relationship...
  19. Liam C

    Average Force Question Given Velocities [High School]

    Homework Statement Nikhil is probably eating his daily snack at this time. Old Man Miller comes back from the store and takes the 0.150kg sandwich from Nikhil as he begins to run away. Nikhil is running at 7.5m/s away from me when I hit him in the head with the sandwich that was moving at...
  20. J

    Need help with mechanics exercise - Vertical motion of 3 balls

    Homework Statement So I've been stuck on this exercise for a few hours now, maybe you can help out: 3 balls meet at the same height hm. Ball 1 is accelerated straight up into the air for 1s from height 0. When the acceleration stops, ball 2 is launched straight up from height 0 with v2 =...
  21. Liam C

    Motion and Forces [High School]

    Homework Statement Mariana is volleying with Old Man Miller and returns one of his feeble tennis serves. He serves the ball such that it is moving at a speed of 35km/h [Forward] when she strikes the 0.060kg ball and sends it back over the net at a velocity of 55km/h[Backward]. a) If the ball...
  22. M

    Deriving an equation to find theta: Projectile motion

    1. the question is this: a projectile's speed at launch is four times its speed at the top of the trajectory. What is the launch angle? I am given no numerical values, but from my understanding gravity is a constant 9.8, and at the maximum height velocity should be equal to 0. 2.the equation...
  23. J

    B Why Does Vqp Need to be Tangential to Vq in Order for Q to Get Closest to P?

    https://www.physicsforums.com/attachments/221718 Say if we have two particles P, and Q, traveling at velocities Vp and Vq respectively. If it is IMPOSSIBLE for Q to collide with P, let us find the distance of closest approach. So from the frame of reference of P, itself is stationary, and Q is...
  24. NotKepler

    Circular Motion and Gravitation

    Homework Statement What is the distance from the Earth's center to a point outside the Earth where the gravitational acceleration duo to Earth is 1/10 of its value at the Earth's surface? Homework Equations F = Gm1m2/r2 F = m1 (v2/r) Mass of Earth = 5.98x1024 G = 6.67x10-11 The Attempt at a...
  25. isukatphysics69

    Curved Motion: Calculating Acceleration Components

    Homework Statement In picture attatched Homework Equations acceleration centripetal, acceleration perpendicular, velocity The Attempt at a Solution I found that i can project the acceleration onto the velocity and get theta = -135 degrees between acceleration and velocity vector. so the...
  26. isukatphysics69

    General Question about curved motion

    Homework Statement When if ever is the speed of the object increasing? Homework Equations Dot product result, cos(theta) acceleration perpendicular, acceleration parralel The Attempt at a Solution I solved the problems first three parts and found when the objects speed is constant using the...
  27. C

    Using quadratic formula to find time [projectile motion]

    1. Homework Statement I'm doing lab, and to start we have to find ΔX of a projectile launched an angle. The first step for us is to find time, and to make it easier our teacher recommended us to first set the angle to zero, and find time like that. I don't have enough X information to find...
  28. F

    Is the Total Force in Damped Harmonic Motion Always Opposite to Velocity?

    Homework Statement Reading chapter 4 of Morin's "Introduction to classical mechanics" I came across to the explanation of the damped harmonic motion. The mass m is subject to a drag force proportional to its velocity, ##F_f = -bv ##. He says that the total force of the mass is ##F= -b \dot{x}...
  29. Leo t

    Rotary motion to lift a dump truck

    Homework Statement In my robotics class I was task with creating a robot to lift and house objects, I have the lifting mechanism, and a housing area, but I can't figure how to get the bucket of the robot to dump using a rotary motor. Homework EquationsThe Attempt at a Solution Tried to fixate...
  30. N

    Projectile motion - microgravity astronaut training

    Homework Statement In microgravity astronaut training and equipment testing, NASA flies an aircraft along a parabolic flight path. The aircraft climbs from 24,000 ft to 31,000 ft, where it enters a parabolic path with a velocity of 143 m/s nose high at 45.0° and exits with velocity 143 m/s at...
  31. J

    How Does the Direction of Fields Affect Charged Particle Motion?

    Homework Statement Homework EquationsThe Attempt at a Solution I am not quite understanding what is given in the question .Are the two directions of the fields known to us ? Assuming we know the two directions , say for example if we know that the two fields are in x and y directions , but...
  32. PumpkinCougar95

    Motion of Charged Particles in E&B Fields

    Homework Statement Problem Statement: A system consists of a long cylindrical anode of radius a and a coaxial cylindrical cathode of radius b (b < a). A filament located along the axis of the system carries a heating current I producing a magnetic field in the surrounding space. Find the least...
  33. R

    Linear motion question -- Drops falling from a dripping faucet

    Hello, I am a new member looking for the answer to a question I recently had on an exam. I will not know if I got it right for up to 6 weeks so am curious. Question is: A faucet drips water at 5 drops per second. calculate the distance in metres between the first and second drop after the first...
  34. M

    Equations to model tennis ball motion

    I'm creating a tennis game and at this point I'm trying to model ball motion. I found multiple lectures on projectiles equations of motion which seem to apply well for when ball is not moving, but they do not take into account the velocity may have at the time of impact. For example, I found a...
  35. T

    Complete Motion of a ball in a Stable Equilibrium

    Hello Everybody! My name is TanX and I got a figure in my mind while studting concepts related to Vertical Circular Motion. I tried finding a solution to it (i.e) I tried finding the condition for movement of the particle in the figure that had come in my mind... Homework Statement So here is...
  36. yaniv arazi

    Projectile motion: Two Balls and Building

    Homework Statement 1.[/B] two balls are thrown vertically from two points on a building. at the bottom of the building ball 1 is thrown and from the roof ball 2 is thrown. ball one reaches its maximum height after three seconds and ball two after one second. after two seconds the balls cross...
  37. A

    What amplitude of simple harmonic motion of the spring....

    Homework Statement Answer: Can someone explain the answer? I don't understand why it's necessary for that the moment when the force exerted on the smaller block is greatest is when it is on the verge of slipping. Could it not already have been slipped off or maybe even 3/4 way slipped off...
  38. isukatphysics69

    Projectile Motion Problem: Maximum Height of a Ball Shot into the Air

    A ball is shot from the ground into the air. At a height of 9.1 m, its velocity vector (in unit vector notation) is (7.6i - 4.9j) m/s; that is, vx = 7.6 m/s and vy = -4.9 m/s. What was the maximum height of of the ball above the ground? I swear to god i have been working on this for 2 hours...
  39. vAhmed

    Find final velocity in a horizontal projectile motion

    Homework Statement A ball was thrown from a cliff, it reached to the ground after 2.5 seconds. a) Find the height of the cliff. b) Find the horizontal distance the ball reached. Homework Equations Δy = 2⋅g⋅t^2 Vfy = g⋅t √(Vfy)^2+(Vfx)^2 Δx= Vx⋅t The Attempt at a Solution I've found Δy=30.6m...
  40. Captain Levi

    What Is the Speed of the Man Relative to the Ground?

    Homework Statement If a river is going 6 km/hr relative to the ground, a boat is going 14 km/hr relative to the river, and a man is jumping from one end of the boat to the other at 6 km/hr relative to the river. What is the speed of the man relative to the ground? I'm stuck between the...
  41. R

    Circular motion in one or two dimensions

    I and my teacher argued whether a uniform circular motion in polar coordinates is considered to be a motion in one dimension or it's a motion in two dimensions.
  42. Humbleness

    Medical supplies dropped from a plane (projectile motion)

    Homework Statement A plane is to be used to drop emergency medical supplies (encased in a crash-proof container) to campers in Northern Ontario. The campers are in a clearing. The plane will approach the clearing at an altitude of 150m while flying level at 40m/s. a) Why can't the pilot wait...
  43. Oklid

    Question about Absolute Dependent Motion Analysis

    Homework Statement [/B] Find accelerations of these masses and the pulley are weightless. Homework Equations [/B] Sb+Sc=Length of the second rope (L2) The Attempt at a Solution [/B] Just like I did, I placed all variables from datum to the masses. In the second system, I write the...
  44. lc99

    Super quick question about angular motion

    Homework Statement Homework Equations displacement = .5(wi+wf)*t wi =0 wf=5 rev / sec t=10 The Attempt at a Solution displacement = 5/2*10= 25 revolutions I know it is simple, but I am not sure if i heard right that the answer is actually 50 revolutions. Did i do something wrong?
  45. Physics345

    Relative motion/Projectile motion

    Homework Statement Describe three ways that understanding projectile motion and relative velocity could help you improve your success in a basketball game Homework Equations none The Attempt at a Solution 1: Understanding projectile motion and relative velocity helps a basketball player to...
  46. SchroedingersLion

    Feynman: Reversible machines, no perpetual motion?

    Greetings, I have begun reading the Feynman Lectures to repeat the most important ideas from my undergraduate studies and to improve my intuitive understanding of physics. In one of the first chapters, the one about the conservation of energy, he demonstrates that the conservation of energy is...
  47. F

    Harmonic Motion of a Charged Particle

    Homework Statement Two positive point charges Q are located at points (±l, 0). A particle with positive charge q and mass m is initially located midway between them and is then given a tiny kick. If it is constrained to move along the line joining the two charges Q, show that it undergoes...
  48. S

    I Parabolic Motion from Hyperbolic Motion

    I thought this was nice. In what follows, ##c=1##. For a particle undergoing constant proper acceleration ##\alpha## in the positive ##x##-direction, an inertial observer can use: ##x (\tau) = x_0 + \dfrac{\gamma(\tau) - \gamma_0}{\alpha}##, where the Lorentz factor is: ##\gamma (\tau) =...
  49. L

    Simple Harmonic Motion of Meterstick

    Homework Statement Homework Equations ##\tau = rFsin(\theta)## ##\tau_{net} = I\alpha## ##F = -kx## ##kx = mg## The Attempt at a Solution I don't understand how the restoring force from the bending of the ruler behaves (so I have no idea how to apply torque here). I also don't understand how...
  50. S313

    Linear Motion Formulas for an Inclined Plane

    Homework Statement The initial speed of a ball up an inclined plane is 3 m/s upwards. The ball reaches its highest point after 1.2 seconds. a) find the acceleration. b) how far has the ball gotten during this time? c) how far has the ball rolled after 0.4 s and after 2.4 seconds? Homework...
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