NCEA Level 3 Physics – Mechanics Practice Exam 2026 - Free NCEA Physics Practice Questions and Study Guide

The correct choice is rectilinear motion because it specifically describes the motion of an object moving in a straight line. This type of motion can be characterized by a constant velocity or varying velocity along a linear path, but it is always confined to a straight trajectory. In physics, rectilinear motion is analyzed using concepts like displacement, velocity, acceleration, and time, focusing on how these variables interact when the object is not changing its direction.

Translational motion is a broader category that includes any motion in which the entire object moves from one location to another, which may involve straight lines or curves. Circular motion involves an object moving in a circular path, while rotational motion refers to an object spinning around an axis. These forms of motion are distinct and do not convey the concept of straight-line movement that rectilinear motion does. Thus, rectilinear motion is the precise term for a body that continues to advance in a straight line.