Rigid Body Motion | Explained with Types

By | July 24, 2019

Rigid Body Motion or Motion of a Rigid Body

In this article we will try to understand motion of a rigid body and its different types. But before moving further in our topic let us first understand the definition of a rigid body.

A rigid body is a solid body in which the distance between two points remains constant irrespective of the action of external forces. We can also say that in a rigid body deformation is zero or so small that it can be neglected.

Motion of a rigid body can be broadly divided into two categories

  1. Plane motion
  2. Space motion

Now let us understand each type of rigid body motion in detail.

Plane motion

Plane motion is a type of rigid body motion in which the velocity vectors of all the moving points (of the body) lie in a single plane.

Plane motion can also be categorized into three sub-types.

  1. Pure rotation

  2. Pure translation

  3. Both rotation and translation

Example of pure rotation is the motion of the particles of a wheel rotating on its own axis.

Example of pure translation is the motion of the particles of a wheel rolling on a plane surface.

Pure translation can be further subdivided into two types.

  1. Rectilinear translation
  2. Curvilinear translation

Rectilinear translation is the motion of particles in a straight line and curvilinear translation is the motion of particles in a curved path.

Example of both rotation and translation is the particles of a hinged object (as shown in figure).

Rigid body motion

Rotation and Translation

Space motion

Space motion is a type of rigid body motion in which the velocity vectors of all the moving points (of the body) do not lie in a single plane.

Example of space motion is the motion of the particles of a spinning top.

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