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Kinematics | Definition, Formula, Derivation, Problems
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Frame of Reference

Last Updated : 06 May, 2024
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Frame of reference is a way to observe and measure objects' positions and movements. It acts like a coordinate system, helping us understand where things are and how they move. By using a frame of reference, we can describe motion accurately. It makes it clear if something is moving fast, slow, or at rest. In this article, we will learn about Frame of Reference in detail, including its definition, types and examples.

Table of Content

  • Frame of Reference
  • Types of Frames of Reference
  • Inertial Frame of Reference
  • Non-inertial Frames of Reference
  • Difference between Inertial and Non-inertial Frames of Reference
  • Frame of Reference Examples

Frame of Reference

A frame of reference is a set of coordinates or a viewpoint that helps to measure and observe the position, motion, and behavior of objects. It is like a background or a grid that helps to describe how something moves or changes.

Frame of reference is an important concept because motion is relative. This means that how we see motion can change depending on where we are and how we are moving. For example, if you are sitting in a moving train and throw a ball up, it might seem to go straight up and down to you. However, to someone standing outside the train, the ball appears to follow a curved path. Both observations are correct but from different frames of reference.

Frame-of-Reference

Here are some key features of a frame of reference:

  • It provides a space or area where observations are made.
  • It offers a specific viewpoint from which measurements are taken.
  • Most frames of reference use a coordinate system to pinpoint exact locations.
  • It helps in understanding motion relative to the observer’s position and condition.

Types of Frames of Reference

Frames of reference can be classified into different types based on their characteristics and uses. There are two types of frame of reference, which are

  1. Inertial Frames of Reference
  2. Non-inertial Frames of Reference

Inertial Frame of Reference

An inertial frame of reference is one in which an object remains at rest or moves at a constant velocity unless acted upon by an external force. This type of frame follows Newton's first law of motion, which is also called the law of inertia.

Example of Inertial Frame of Reference

For example, if you toss an apple straight up while sitting calmly in a park, it will come back down to your hand (ignoring air resistance and other forces). Here, the park and everything in it can be considered an inertial frame because there is no acceleration involved in the system.

Non-inertial Frames of Reference

A non-inertial frame of reference is one where the observer is undergoing acceleration. This can make objects appear to move in unusual ways due to the effects of the acceleration. This frame of reference is useful for analyzing situations where forces, like friction and gravity, interact in ways that cause acceleration.

Example of Non-Inertial Frame of Reference

A good example of non-inertial frame of reference is when you're in a car that suddenly accelerates. If you have a balloon in the car, it will appear to move forward even if it is actually the car (and you) moving backward from the balloon.

Difference between Inertial and Non-inertial Frames of Reference

Here are the key differences between Inertial and Non-inertial Frames of Reference:

AspectInertial Frames of ReferenceNon-inertial Frames of Reference
DefinitionA frame where objects remain at rest or move at a constant velocity if no forces act on them.A frame that is accelerating, either in speed or direction.
Force InteractionNo net external forces are acting. Only internal forces are considered.External forces, like friction or gravity, influence the observations.
Laws of MotionNewton's laws of motion hold true in their simplest form.Newton's laws do not apply without including fictitious forces.
ExamplesA car moving at a constant speed on a straight road.A car accelerating or decelerating, or moving in a curved path.
Motion PerceptionMotion is perceived relative to a stable, non-accelerating background.Motion may include perceived forces that are not acting on objects (like centrifugal force).
Mathematical AnalysisSimpler, as forces and motions are straightforward to calculate.More complex due to the need to consider additional fictitious forces.
Practical UseUsed in scenarios where high precision and simplicity are required.Common in everyday experiences where acceleration is involved, like in vehicles.

Frame of Reference Examples

Here are a few examples of frames of reference :

  • Inside a Moving Train: If you toss a ball straight up while sitting on a moving train, it goes straight up and comes back down to your hand. To an observer outside the train, the ball moves in a curved path, following the train's motion.
  • On a Merry-go-round: When you are on a merry-go-round, it feels like you are moving in a circle. To someone standing outside, they see you spinning around the center. Both observations are correct but depend on the frame of reference.
  • Driving a Car: To a driver, the car ahead appears to move away as they accelerate. To a pedestrian watching from the sidewalk, both cars might be moving forward. Each observer's frame of reference affects how they see the cars moving.
  • Observing the Stars: If you look at the stars from the earth, they seem to move across the sky. This movement is due to the Earth's rotation, which is your frame of reference. From space, the motion would appear different.
  • Playing Catch in a Park: When playing catch, if you throw a ball to a friend, it seems to travel directly to them. To a bystander observing from a distance, the ball might take a different path, influenced by how you both are moving.

Also, Check

  • Relative Motion
  • Motion in Three Dimensions
  • Centripetal and Centrifugal Force 

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    Speed of Sound as the name suggests is the speed of the sound in any medium. We know that sound is a form of energy that is caused due to the vibration of the particles and sound travels in the form of waves. A wave is a vibratory disturbance that transfers energy from one point to another point wit
    12 min read
    Reflection of Sound
    Reflection of Sound is the phenomenon of striking of sound with a barrier and bouncing back in the same medium. It is the most common phenomenon observed by us in our daily life. Let's take an example, suppose we are sitting in an empty hall and talking to a person we hear an echo sound which is cre
    9 min read
    Refraction of Sound
    A sound is a vibration that travels as a mechanical wave across a medium. It can spread via a solid, a liquid, or a gas as the medium. In solids, sound travels the quickest, comparatively more slowly in liquids, and the slowest in gases. A sound wave is a pattern of disturbance caused by energy trav
    5 min read
    How do we hear?
    Sound is produced from a vibrating object or the organ in the form of vibrations which is called propagation of sound and these vibrations have to be recognized by the brain to interpret the meaning which is possible only in the presence of a multi-functioning organ that is the ear which plays a hug
    7 min read
    Audible and Inaudible Sounds
    We hear sound whenever we talk, listen to some music, or play any musical instrument, etc. But did you ever wondered what is that sound and how is it produced? Or why do we hear to our own voice when we shout in a big empty room loudly? What are the ranges of sound that we can hear? In this article,
    10 min read
    Explain the Working and Application of SONAR
    Sound energy is the type of energy that allows our ears to sense something. When a body vibrates or moves in a ‘to-and-fro' motion, a sound is made. Sound needs a medium to flow through in order to propagate. This medium could be in the form of a gas, a liquid, or a solid. Sound propagates through a
    8 min read
    Noise Pollution
    Noise pollution is the pollution caused by sound which results in various problems for Humans. A sound is a form of energy that enables us to hear. We hear the sound from the frequency range of 20 to 20000 Hertz (20kHz). Humans have a fixed range for which comfortably hear a sound if we are exposed
    8 min read
    Doppler Effect - Definition, Formula, Examples
    Doppler Effect is an important phenomenon when it comes to waves. This phenomenon has applications in a lot of fields of science. From nature's physical process to planetary motion, this effect comes into play wherever there are waves and the objects are traveling with respect to the wave. In the re
    7 min read
    Doppler Shift Formula
    When it comes to sound propagation, the Doppler Shift is the shift in pitch of a source as it travels. The frequency seems to grow as the source approaches the listener and decreases as the origin fades away from the ear. When the source is going toward the listener, its velocity is positive; when i
    3 min read

    Electrostatics

    Electrostatics
    Electrostatics is the study of electric charges that are fixed. It includes an study of the forces that exist between charges as defined by Coulomb's Law. The following concepts are involved in electrostatics: Electric charge, electric field, and electrostatic force.Electrostatic forces are non cont
    13 min read
    Electric Charge
    Electric Charge is the basic property of a matter that causes the matter to experience a force when placed in a electromagnetic field. It is the amount of electric energy that is used for various purposes. Electric charges are categorized into two types, that are, Positive ChargeNegative ChargePosit
    8 min read
    Coulomb's Law
    Coulomb’s Law is defined as a mathematical concept that defines the electric force between charged objects. Columb's Law states that the force between any two charged particles is directly proportional to the product of the charge but is inversely proportional to the square of the distance between t
    9 min read
    Electric Dipole
    An electric dipole is defined as a pair of equal and opposite electric charges that are separated, by a small distance. An example of an electric dipole includes two atoms separated by small distances. The magnitude of the electric dipole is obtained by taking the product of either of the charge and
    11 min read
    Dipole Moment
    Two small charges (equal and opposite in nature) when placed at small distances behave as a system and are called as Electric Dipole. Now, electric dipole movement is defined as the product of either charge with the distance between them. Electric dipole movement is helpful in determining the symmet
    6 min read
    Electrostatic Potential
    Electrostatic potential refers to the amount of electrical potential energy present at a specific point in space due to the presence of electric charges. It represents how much work would be done to move a unit of positive charge from infinity to that point without causing any acceleration. The unit
    12 min read
    Electric Potential Energy
    Electrical potential energy is the cumulative effect of the position and configuration of a charged object and its neighboring charges. The electric potential energy of a charged object governs its motion in the local electric field.Sometimes electrical potential energy is confused with electric pot
    15+ min read
    Potential due to an Electric Dipole
    The potential due to an electric dipole at a point in space is the electric potential energy per unit charge that a test charge would experience at that point due to the dipole. An electric potential is the amount of work needed to move a unit of positive charge from a reference point to a specific
    7 min read
    Equipotential Surfaces
    When an external force acts to do work, moving a body from a point to another against a force like spring force or gravitational force, that work gets collected or stores as the potential energy of the body. When the external force is excluded, the body moves, gaining the kinetic energy and losing a
    9 min read
    Capacitor and Capacitance
    Capacitor and Capacitance are related to each other as capacitance is nothing but the ability to store the charge of the capacitor. Capacitors are essential components in electronic circuits that store electrical energy in the form of an electric charge. They are widely used in various applications,
    11 min read
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