Question

What is the difference between linear and rectilinear motion?

Answer 1

A body is said to be in linear motion when it travels along a straight line or along a curved line in a plane.

Example - Athlete running along a straight path.

Rectilinear motion ( is also a type of linear motion) which can be described by a moving body that travels only along a straight path. In other words, when a body travels only along a straight path, it is said to be in rectilinear motion.

Example - Light travels in a rectilinear motion.