Rectilinear motion refers to the motion of a particle along a straight line. In rectilinear motion, the particle's position changes only in one dimension, typically represented as the x-axis. This means that the particle's motion occurs in a straight line, without any deviation or curvature.
In rectilinear motion, the particle's position is described by its displacement (change in position) along the line with respect to time. The displacement can be positive or negative, depending on the direction of motion relative to a reference point or origin.
The velocity of a particle in rectilinear motion is the rate of change of its position with respect to time. It indicates the particle's speed and direction of motion along the straight line. If the velocity is positive, the particle is moving in one direction, while a negative velocity indicates motion in the opposite direction.
Similarly, the acceleration of a particle in rectilinear motion is the rate of change of its velocity with respect to time. Acceleration can be positive or negative, depending on whether the particle is speeding up or slowing down in its rectilinear path.
In rectilinear motion, the particle can have various types of motion profiles, including constant velocity (uniform motion), uniform acceleration, deceleration (negative uniform acceleration), and motion with varying acceleration. The equations of motion, such as those derived from Newton's laws, can be used to describe and analyze the rectilinear motion of a particle in terms of its displacement, velocity, acceleration, and time.
Overall, rectilinear motion simplifies the analysis of a particle's motion by restricting it to a straight line, making it easier to apply mathematical concepts and principles to understand and predict its behavior.