Motion and Rest: Definition and Differences

Introduction:

We see a lot of objects around us in our daily lives in various places such as our house, the playground, the jungle, the garden, and the school. Among those objects, some seem to be fixed in particular places and others aren’t. In this section, we will be looking at such objects in detail.

Explanation:

Motion:

The pictures above show the crawling ants, the cycling people, the swimming ducks, the running people, and the water falling in Niagara Falls. All the pictures show objects that are moving. The position of all these objects changes with time. Therefore, they are said to be in motion. Thus, an object is said to be in motion if its position changes with time.

In the above picture, the woman with the dog, the man, and the birds are all moving as their position changes with time. However, there are other objects in the picture such as the building, the trees, and the seats, which do not change their positions with time. The object whose position does not change with time is said to be at rest.

Questions and Answers:

1. Identify the objects that are in motion or at rest in the picture of the bicycle race.

Answer:

Objects in motion: The participants with their bicycles.

Objects at rest: The grass, the road, and the trees.

2. Identify the objects that are in motion or at rest in the picture of the playground.

Answer:

Objects in motion: The children and the merry-go-round.

Objects at rest: The other rides, the building, the grass, and the trees.

Summary

• An object is said to be in motion if its position changes with time.
• An object is said to be at rest if its position does not change with time.