rotation about vs rotation along

Both 'rotation about' and 'rotation along' are correct, but they are used in different contexts. 'Rotation about' is commonly used to describe the axis or point around which an object rotates, while 'rotation along' is used to describe the direction or path of rotation.

Last updated: April 01, 2024 • 1191 views

rotation about

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English.

This phrase is used to describe the axis or point around which an object rotates. It indicates the central point of rotation.

Examples:

The Earth's rotation about its axis causes day and night.
The gymnast performed a perfect rotation about the horizontal bar.
The artist captured the rotation about the center of the sculpture in the painting.
The engineer calculated the rotation about the fixed point in the structure.
The dancer executed a graceful rotation about her partner.

Show examples from the web [+]

Reflection across a plain, translation, rotation about an axis or stretching along axes can be carried out sequentially, as a product of several transformations.
You can also use the right-hand rule for determining the default positive direction of rotation about an axis in 3D space. Point your right thumb in the positive direction of the axis and curl your fingers. Your fingers indicate the positive rotation direction about the axis.
The guides shall prevent motion in other directions including rotation about any axis.
± 20º axial rotation about the horizontal longitudinal center line of the coupling.
± 25º axial rotation about the longitudinal axis from the horizontal plane of the vehicle - see Figure 7.
(a) The body has an uniform rotation about the principal axis of inertia and the rotational angular velocity is equal or very near to a 3/2 n.
the movement of the bodywork section is assumed to be pure rotation about point "A".
The integrated interlocking screws of the INTERTAN system increase stability and resistance to both intra and post-operative fracture rotation about the implant by providing two points of fixation within the femoral neck and head.
In fact the effect of the lunar gravitational attraction on the seas determines an oval deformation of the equilibrium surface of the oceans, that follows the orbital motion of the Moon, that is about 27,5 times slower than the Earth rotation about its axis.
"Rotation angle (symbol ε)" means the angle indicating the orientation of the retro-reflecting material by an appropriate symbol with respect to rotation about the reference axis;
2.3.8. "Rotation angle (symbol ε)" means the angle indicating the orientation of the retro-reflecting material by an appropriate symbol with respect to rotation about the reference axis;
Yaw rate means the rate of change of the vehicle's heading angle measured in degrees/second of rotation about a vertical axis through the vehicle's centre of gravity.
The Moon has uniform rotation about an axis fixed in the Moon, the period of rotation being equal to the mean sidereal period of its orbit about the Earth (resonance spin/orbit 1:1).
A current collector shall achieve, as a minimum, a ± 55º rotation about the vertical axis of its attachment to the trolleybus and a ± 20º rotation about the horizontal axis of its attachment to the trolleybus.

Alternatives:

rotation around
rotation on
rotation upon
rotation surrounding
rotation at

rotation along

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English.

This phrase is used to describe the direction or path of rotation. It indicates the line or course along which an object rotates.