Lesson 6 of 9
Kinds of motion
Show on a big screenA lift, a Ferris wheel and a swing all move. Their paths are different. A path is the line along which a thing moves.
Drag the slider. The dot draws its path. Then name the motion.
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Step 1 of 4
- A lift, a Ferris wheel, and a swing.
- The lift moves in a straight line.
- The wheel moves in a circle, round and round.
- The swing moves to and fro, along the same path.
- Rectilinear motion — motion along a straight line. A lift going up.
- Circular motion — motion round a centre. A Ferris wheel seat.
- To-and-fro motion — motion forward and back along one path. A swing.
Periodic — motion that repeats after equal times. A clock pendulum is periodic. So is a Ferris wheel that turns steadily.
Rule: Name a motion by the shape of its path.
Watch out!
A bicycle wheel can show two kinds at once. The air valve, where you add air, goes round the centre. The whole wheel goes straight.
Try the lab to finish this lesson.