11 uniform motion examples in real life

1. 11 Uniform Motion Examples in real life | Uniform velocity examples

Uniform Motion Examples in Real life

Some of the uniform motion examples in real life are given below.

1. Rotation of Earth around its axis
2. Revolution/ orbital motion of Earth around the sun
3. Movements of hands of a clock
4. An airplane cruising at a steady speed
5. Movement of the fan
6. A train going at a steady speed along the tracks
7. A car moving on the highway with a fixed speed
8. Rotation of moon around the earth
9. Walking at a constant speed
10. A ship cruising at a steady speed
11. An artificial satellite in its orbit.

Note: It is important to note here that all these cases of orbital motion and rotation of the earth around its axis are cases that approximately have uniform speed.
These motions do not have perfect uniform velocity. These motions are accelerated because the velocity of the earth or moon is constantly changing which in turn causes a change in acceleration.

Before you read any further, it might be a good idea first to understand What is uniform motion?

Recommended Read: What is uniform motion? Definition, Graph & Examples

What is uniform motion?

In brief
Uniform motion favors the condition in which a body covers an equal distance in an equal interval of time is known to be uniform velocity.

• For example, a car traveling on a highway at a fixed speed is one such example of uniform motion or uniform velocity. Whereas car traveling in city traffic at different speeds is an example of non-uniform motion. 

2. 11 Uniform motion Examples in Real life explained

Some uniform motion examples are explained below.

Examples

1. ROTATION OF EARTH AROUND ITS AXIS

The very first one in my list of 11 uniform motion examples in real life is the rotation of the earth around its axis. If you are wondering how? then, let me tell you how.

• The rotation of the earth is Uniform Motion as it keeps happening over a period of time at a constant speed in a continuous process.
• The Earth’s axis runs from the North Pole to the South Pole. It takes the Earth 24 hours (Actual: 23 hours, 56 minutes), or one day, to make one complete rotation around this invisible line. As the Earth rotates, each area of its surface gets a turn to face and be warmed by the sun.

2. Revolution/ orbital motion of Earth around the sun

• Earth revolves in orbit around the sun for 365 days, 6 hours, and 9 minutes with reference to the stars, at a speed ranging from 29.29 to 30.29 km/s. The 6 hours, and 9 minutes add up to about an extra day every fourth year, which is designated a leap year, with the extra day added as February 29th.
• The Earth travels in an elliptical orbit around the sun. It travels at roughly 67,000 miles per hour (or 18.5 miles a second), on this path.
• This speed of the earth’s orbital motion or to make one revolution always remains constant. As a result, the Earth travels equal distances in fixed intervals of time. It does not happen that the Earth revolves around the sun in 100 days one time and then in 365 days the next time around. Here the earth covers equal distance in equal intervals of time.

3. Movements of hands of a clock

• The distance traveled by the hands of a clock is fixed in fixed intervals of time. This means, that when an hour hand moves one unit distance, we say one hour has passed. When a second’s hand moves one unit we say 5 seconds have passed.
• Since this movement is uniform we are able to find the time. What if it moved one unit in 5 seconds and the other in 1 second, then we would be never able to guess time.

4. An airplane cruising at a steady speed

• Similar to the car on a long drive, an airplane in the sky can easily travel at a uniform speed. An aircraft at a steady speed travels at a uniform speed, which means it travels equal distances in fixed intervals of time.
• Certain factors like turbulence, turning, landing, etc may cause some deviation in speeds which is non-uniform. But, in constant speed conditions while cruising we can consider it to be an example of uniform motion.
• When a plane takes off, it starts from zero. But when it is flying in the sky at the desired altitude and speed, this is the time when it can fly at a steady-state uniform motion.
• Also while landing, it will again go back to its non-uniform speed.

5. Movement of the fan

• Ceiling fans as a whole “rotate” on their axis, so we can say they are doing rotational motion, whereas fan blades move in a circle with a fixed radius from the center; thus, they are doing circular motion.
• Ever seen the blades of a fan rotating when you turn on the switch, they rotate at a fixed speed. They don’t vary their speed on their own unless and until changed by controlling the regulator. Thus, the blades travel equal distances in fixed intervals, hence, this is also an example of uniform motion.

6. A train going at a steady speed along the tracks

• Similar to cars and airplanes, there comes a time when a train running on a track can achieve a steady-state uniform motion. At first, it will start from zero, then after achieving the desired stable speed, a train will maintain it for some time before stopping at some junction.
• The train maintains a uniform speed at some stage, that is traveling equal distances in a fixed interval of time.

7. A car moving on the highway with a fixed speed

• When you start a car, at first, the motion of a car is perfectly a non-uniform one. While driving on a highway, the road is clear of any traffic then we move ahead to speed it up and we can drive smoothly. After some time, when you have achieved your desired speed, what you wanna do is go smoothly. And especially if we put the car on cruise mode, the car will automatically cruise at the specified speed. There is no variation in speed. Hence, this is an example of uniform motion.
• But, this is not the case while driving in city traffic. We are constantly stopped by traffic lights and heavy traffic at peak hours. It is almost impossible to maintain a uniform speed. Driving in city traffic is an example of non-uniform motion.

8. Rotation of moon around the earth

Now let’s see our 8th example from our list of 11 uniform motion examples in real life.

• To complete a revolution around the earth, our natural satellite, which is the moon, takes exactly 27 days.

• It happens because the moon revolves around the earth in a uniform circular motion. But, in reality, the moon does not revolve around the earth in a uniform circular motion.

• Scientists and astronomers have calculated that the moon is moving away from earth at 4 cm per year. Thus, as a result, one can say that the motion of the moon is not a perfectly uniform circular motion.

• Yet, the speed at which the moon is spinning away from the earth is the same speed at which our fingernails grow. Thus, you can neglect it. I mean, it would take billions of years for the moon to get away from the earth.

9. Walking at a constant speed

• When we walk at a constant speed, we are under uniform motion. But this is not always possible as we may get tired or there might be some other obstacles.

• Normal walking involves starting, stopping, and changing speeds, besides roughly steady locomotion. Such walking is a non-uniform motion.

10. A ship cruising at a steady speed

• When ships sail on the open ocean, they are prone to many forces in all directions. Be it wave loads, structural stresses, wind forces or even turning forces, they must build these vessels to withstand all such loads and stresses.

• When the ship reaches a calm place in the ocean. The ship can move in water and hence can also achieve uniform motion. This is because of the uniform motion that it cruises over the waters.

11. An artificial Satellite in its orbit

• Satellites are one of the most important sources of communication in today’s world.
• They can collect more data, more than instruments on the ground.
• They also can see into space better than telescopes on Earth’s surface. I mean, without satellites revolving in the earth’s orbit, half of the world will go blind.
• Satellites revolve around the earth in a uniform, circular motion. Our very internet is working because of the use of satellites.
• GPS, weather forecasting systems and so many other devices use satellites to work.

Congratulations, you have read the complete article about the 11 uniform motion examples in real life. If you have any doubts or queries, feel free to comment below. We will respond as soon as possible.

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