Orientation (rigid body)

Orientation of a rigid body in 3D changes by rotation. In the case of rotation about an axis through the center of the body, only the orientation changes, otherwise also position. Taking one orientation as reference, there is a one-to-one correspondence between orientations and rotations about the origin, i.e. rotations which are linear transformations. If the rigid body has any rotational symmetry, not all orientations are distinguishable, except by observing how the orientation evolves in time from a known starting orientation.

Related Topics:
Rigid body - Rotation - Linear transformation - Symmetry

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

This should not be confused with the other meaning, where a different orientation means a change to the mirror image by an improper rotation, which includes a reflection, see orientation (mathematics).

Related Topics:
Mirror image - Reflection - Orientation (mathematics)

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

See also gyroscope.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~