liikeradan

Liikerata means the path traced by a moving object as time progresses. The genitive form liikeradan is used when describing the trajectory of a specific object, for example liikeradan ominaisuudet (properties of the trajectory). The concept is central in physics, engineering, biomechanics and computer graphics, and is commonly treated as a time-parametrized curve r(t) in two- or three-dimensional space.

In classical mechanics, the trajectory is determined by initial conditions and the forces acting on the object. In two dimensions, common shapes include straight lines, parabolas under gravity (ignoring drag), and circles or ellipses in central-force fields. In real-world conditions, friction, air resistance and constraints can distort the trajectory. The path is described by concepts such as curvature and torsion, and the velocity is tangent to the trajectory at each point.

Applications of liikerata include sports science for movement analysis, robotics and automation for motion planning, computer animation and video games for simulating motion, and astronomy and spaceflight for describing orbital paths. Trajectory data are obtained with high-speed cameras, motion capture systems, radar, or GPS, and are modeled or optimized to study, predict, or control motion.