Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 exam•Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
A reference frame is a coordinate system used to describe the motion of an object. It provides a point of reference for measuring positions, velocities, and accelerations.
Related terms
Inertial Frame: An inertial frame is a special type of reference frame where Newton's laws of motion hold true without any external forces acting on it.
Non-inertial Frame: A non-inertial frame is a reference frame that is accelerating or rotating. In this type of frame, additional fictitious forces need to be considered.
Relative Motion: Relative motion refers to the movement of an object with respect to another object or observer. It describes how one object's motion appears from the perspective of another object or observer.