What is Rectilinear Motion?

Rectilinear motion describes the movement of an object in a straight line, without any deviation or change in direction. It involves motion solely along one dimension, such as horizontally, vertically, or along an inclined plane. This type of motion is characterized by constant speed or acceleration along the linear path.

Rectilinear motion is commonly encountered in various real-world scenarios, from the motion of vehicles along roads to the descent of objects under gravity.

Definition of Rectilinear Motion

Rectilinear motion is the movement of objects in a straight-line regardless of its path

Displacement

Displacement is a vector quantity that describes the change in position of an object moving from one point to another. It is defined as the straight-line distance and direction from the initial position of the object to its final position.

Speed

The speed is the “how fast something moves”, shown as the time needed to cover a distance. It tells you how rapidly an item is moving through a space. As such as your car is driving 60 mile in one hour you may conclude your speed is 60 miles per hour (mph).

Examples of Rectilinear Motion

• A car moving along a straight road.
• A train traveling along a straight track.
• A bullet fired from a gun in a vacuum.
• A person walking in a perfectly straight line.
• A rocket ascending vertically before reaching escape velocity.

Rectilinear motion refers to the motion of an object along a straight line. In rectilinear motion, the object’s position changes with respect to time, but its path remains linear, following a single dimension.

This article discusses rectilinear motion, its characteristics, equations, types, laws, differences from linear motion, and frequently asked questions.