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{{unreferenced, date=March 2014
Geometric terms of location describe directions or positions relative to the shape of an object. These terms are used in descriptions of engineering, physics, and other sciences, as well as ordinary day to day discourse.
Though these terms by themselves may be somewhat ambiguous, they are usually used in a context in which their meaning is clear. For example, when referring to a drive shaft it is clear what is meant by axial or radial directions. Or, in a
* Axial – along the center of a round body, or the axis of rotation of a body
* Radial – along a direction pointing along a
6DOF.svg,
free body diagram
A free body diagram consists of a diagrammatic representation of a single body or a subsystem of bodies isolated from its surroundings showing all the forces acting on it.
In physics and engineering, a free body diagram (FBD; also called a force ...
, one may similarly infer a sense of orientation by the forces or other vectors represented.
Examples
Common geometric terms of location are:
* Axial – along the center of a round body, or the axis of rotation of a body
* Radial – along a direction pointing along a radius
In classical geometry, a radius ( : radii) of a circle or sphere is any of the line segments from its center to its perimeter, and in more modern usage, it is also their length. The name comes from the latin ''radius'', meaning ray but also the ...
from the center of an object, or perpendicular to a curved path.
* Circumferential (or azimuthal) – following around a curve or circumference
In geometry, the circumference (from Latin ''circumferens'', meaning "carrying around") is the perimeter of a circle or ellipse. That is, the circumference would be the arc length of the circle, as if it were opened up and straightened out t ...
of an object. For instance: the pattern of cells in Taylor–Couette flow
In fluid dynamics, the Taylor–Couette flow consists of a viscous fluid confined in the gap between two rotating cylinders. For low angular velocities, measured by the Reynolds number ''Re'', the flow is steady and purely azimuthal. This basic s ...
varies along the azimuth of the experiment.
* Tangential – intersecting a curve at a point and parallel to the curve at that point.
* Collinear – in the same line
* Parallel – in the same direction.
* Transverse – intersecting at any angle, i.e. not parallel.
* Orthogonal (or perpendicular) – at a right angle (at the point of intersection).
* Elevation – along a curve from a point on the horizon to the zenith, directly overhead.
* Depression – along a curve from a point on the horizon to the nadir, directly below.
* Vertical – spanning the height of a body.
* Longitudinal – spanning the length of a body.
* Lateral – spanning the width of a body. The distinction between width and length may be unclear out of context.
* Adjacent – next to
* Lineal – following along a given path. The shape of the path is not necessarily straight (compare to linear
Linearity is the property of a mathematical relationship ('' function'') that can be graphically represented as a straight line. Linearity is closely related to '' proportionality''. Examples in physics include rectilinear motion, the linear ...
). For instance, a length of rope might be measured in lineal meters
The metre ( British spelling) or meter ( American spelling; see spelling differences) (from the French unit , from the Greek noun , "measure"), symbol m, is the primary unit of length in the International System of Units (SI), though its p ...
or feet
The foot ( : feet) is an anatomical structure found in many vertebrates. It is the terminal portion of a limb which bears weight and allows locomotion. In many animals with feet, the foot is a separate organ at the terminal part of the leg made ...
. See arc length
ARC may refer to:
Business
* Aircraft Radio Corporation, a major avionics manufacturer from the 1920s to the '50s
* Airlines Reporting Corporation, an airline-owned company that provides ticket distribution, reporting, and settlement services
* ...
.
See also
Six degrees of freedom
Six degrees of freedom (6DOF) refers to the six mechanical degrees of freedom of movement of a rigid body in three-dimensional space. Specifically, the body is free to change position as forward/backward (surge), up/down (heave), left/right ...
Anatomical axes.svg, Anatomical terms of location
Standard anatomical terms of location are used to unambiguously describe the anatomy of animals, including humans. The terms, typically derived from Latin or Greek roots, describe something in its standard anatomical position. This position pro ...
Human anatomy planes, labeled.svg, Anatomical plane
An anatomical plane is a hypothetical plane used to transect the body, in order to describe the location of structures or the direction of movements. In human and animal anatomy, three principal planes are used:
* The sagittal plane or latera ...
References