Introduction

Kinematics is the branch of dynamics which describes the motion of bodies without reference to the forces which either cause the motion or are generated as a result of the motion. Kinematics is often described as the “geometry of motion.” Some engineering applications of kinematics include the design of cams, gears, linkages, and other machine elements to control or produce certain desired motions, and the calculation of flight trajectories for aircraft, rockets, and spacecraft. A thorough working knowledge of kinematics is a prerequisite to kinetics, which is the study of the relationships between motion and the corresponding forces which cause or accompany the motion.