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Orbit vs Rotation - What's the difference?

orbit | rotation |

In mathematics terms the difference between orbit and rotation

is that orbit is a collection of points related by the evolution function of a dynamical system while rotation is an operation that a continuous isometry deformation that fixes at least one point can result in.

As nouns the difference between orbit and rotation

is that orbit is a circular or elliptical path of one object around another object while rotation is the act of turning around a centre or an axis.

As a verb orbit

is to circle or revolve around another object.

orbit

English

Noun

(en noun)
  • A circular or elliptical path of one object around another object.
    • The Moon's orbit around the Earth takes nearly one month to complete.
  • A sphere of influence; an area of control.
    • In the post WWII era, several eastern European countries came into the orbit of the Soviet Union.
  • The course of one's usual progression, or the extent of one's typical range.
    • The convenience store was a heavily travelled point in her daily orbit , as she purchased both cigarettes and lottery tickets there.
  • (anatomy) The bony cavity containing the eyeball; the eye socket.
  • (physics) The path an electron takes around an atom's nucleus.
  • (mathematics) A collection of points related by the evolution function of a dynamical system.

    • Derived terms

    * *

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To circle or revolve around another object.
    • The Earth orbits the Sun.
  • To move around the general vicinity of something.
    • The harried mother had a cloud of children orbiting her, asking for sweets.
  • To place an object into an orbit around a planet.
    • A rocket was used to orbit the satellite.

    Synonyms

    * (move around the general vicinity of) circumambulate, tag along * (place an object into an orbit) launch

    Derived terms

    * orbital

    See also

    * satellite * (wikipedia "orbit")

    rotation

    English

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (chiefly, uncountable) The act of turning around a centre or an axis.
  • *{{quote-magazine, date=2013-03
    • , author=Frank Fish, George Lauder , title=Not Just Going with the Flow , volume=101, issue=2, page=114 , magazine= citation , passage=An extreme version of vorticity is a vortex . The vortex is a spinning, cyclonic mass of fluid, which can be observed in the rotation of water going down a drain, as well as in smoke rings, tornados and hurricanes.}}
    The earth's rotation about its axis is responsible for its being slightly oblate rather than a sphere.
  • A single complete cycle around a centre or an axis.
    • Earth's moon completes a rotation every twenty-seven days or so.
  • A regular variation in a sequence.
    • crop rotation
    The medical resident finished a two-week rotation in pediatrics and began one in orthopaedics.
  • (mathematics) An operation that a continuous isometry deformation that fixes at least one point can result in.
    • The function mapping (''x'',''y'') to (''&
  • x2212;y'',''x'') is a rotation .
  • (baseball) The set of (soplink) of a team.
  • (aviation) The step during takeoff when the pilot commands the vehicle to lift the nose wheel off the ground during the takeoff roll.

    • External links

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