What is rotational motion?

Rotational motion is defined as the motion of an object around an axis. This can involve entire objects, like a spinning wheel or a rotating planet, which move in a circular path about a fixed point or axis. In this type of motion, every point in the object traces a circular path of varying radius depending on its distance from the axis of rotation.

Understanding this concept is essential for various applications in physics and engineering, such as understanding machinery, understanding the orbits of celestial bodies, and designing systems that involve gears and rotors. In contrast, the other options refer to different types of motion that do not involve rotation around an axis. For instance, linear motion refers to movement in a straight line, which does not involve any rotational aspect. The concept of vibration is also unrelated to rotational motion since it refers to oscillating or back-and-forth movements around a fixed point, rather than circular movement around an axis.