Radial motion refers to the movement of an object either closer to or farther away from a fixed object. It is commonly observed in astronomy, describing the motion along the line connecting two objects, impacting concepts like radial velocity.
The motion of an object that is moving closer to or farther away from an object considered to be fixed is known as radial motion. Radial motion refers to the movement along the line connecting the two objects, typically involving an increase or decrease in the distance between them. This type of motion can be observed in various contexts, such as the motion of planets in our solar system around the Sun or the motion of satellites in orbit around a celestial body.
In astronomy, radial motion is often associated with the concept of radial velocity, which describes the component of an object's velocity along the line of sight from an observer. Positive radial velocity indicates motion toward the observer, while negative radial velocity implies motion away from the observer. Radial motion is an essential consideration in understanding the dynamics of celestial objects and their interactions in space.