When an object tends to move along a straight line, it is said to be exhibiting linear motion. Linear motion is also known as rectilinear motion. A number of our daily life activities such as walking, bowling, playing on a slide, etc., display linear motion in real life. In other words, the straight-line motion of an object is known as linear motion.
Examples of Linear Motion
1. Firing a Bullet
The process of firing a bullet involves linear motion in many ways. For instance, the slider of the gun exhibits linear motion when it is pulled back and released during the process of cocking. Similarly, when the bullet leaves the barrel, it moves along a straight line, thereby displaying linear motion in real life.
2. Sliding Door
A sliding door is one of the prominent examples of linear motion in everyday life. When the sliding door is pushed or pulled along the casing, it moves in a straight line, thereby allowing the person to open or close the door accordingly.
3. Swimming in a Straight Line
A swimmer uses the motion of hands and feet to push the water backwards and pull his/her body in the forward direction. When a swimmer swims along a straight line, he/she is said to be exhibiting a linear motion.
4. Parade
The movement of soldiers during a parade is highly synchronous. The soldiers mostly march in a forward direction along a straight line. Hence, a group of soldiers participating in the parade are said to be exhibiting rectilinear motion in real life.
5. Motion of a Car on a Straight Road
The force exerted by the car engine helps the vehicle move. When a car moves in the forward or backward direction on a straight road, it is said to be exhibiting linear motion.
6. Free Fall of Objects
When an object is dropped from a certain height, it tends to get attracted towards the ground due to the gravitational pull of the earth. The free fall of the body is a clear demonstration of linear motion in real life. Apple falling from a tree, a ball thrown off a cliff, etc., are some of the examples of rectilinear motion.
7. Elevators
An elevator moves up and down with the help of an electrically powered pulley mechanism. The motion of the elevators is along a straight line. Hence, it is said to be displaying rectilinear motion.
8. Playing Slide
A playing slide is an inclined plane attached to the ground on one side and to a ladder on the other side. When a child slides down the surface of a playing slide due to the action of gravitational force, he/she moves along a straight line, thereby exhibiting linear motion.
9. Bowling
A rolling ball is one of the prime examples of linear motion in everyday life. When a muscular force is applied to a bowling ball, it rolls along the lane in a straight line. Similarly, when a footballer kicks a ball with force, it moves in a linear direction.
10. An Airplane Flying Straight
An aeroplane often follows a straight-line path to move from one location to the other. The movement of the plane along the straight-line path reduces the distance, thereby minimizing the time required to travel from one place to the other. Hence, the motion of an aeroplane is mostly rectilinear in nature.
