ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Translation (physics)

Translation in physics means the movement of an object from one place to another. Imagine you are playing with your toy car and you move it from one side of the room to the other - this is translation!

But when we talk about translation in physics, we also need to think about the speed and direction of the object's movement. Let's say you push your toy car really hard and it goes really fast in a straight line - this is also translation, but with a specific speed and direction.

We can use math and formulas to describe the translation of an object. For example, we can measure the object's speed in meters per second or its velocity in meters per second in a certain direction.

Understanding translation is important in physics because it helps us to predict how objects will move and interact with each other. So, next time you play with your toy car, remember that you are actually a little physicist studying the amazing phenomenon of translation!