Degree of Freedom

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Degree of Freedom

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1. A mode of motion, either angular or linear, with respect to a coordinate system, independent of any other mode. </dd>
A body in motion has six possible degrees of freedom, three linear and three angular. </dd>
2. Specifically, of a gyro the number of orthogonal axes about which the spin axis is free to rotate. </dd>
3. In an unconstrained dynamic or other system, the number of independent variables required to specify completely the state of the system at a given moment. </dd>
If the system has constraints, i.e., kinematic or geometric relations between the variables, each such relation reduces by one the number of degrees of freedom of the system. In a continuous medium with given boundary conditions, the number of degrees of freedom is the number of normal modes of oscillation. </dd>
4. Of a mechanical system, the minimum number of independent generalized coordinates required to define completely the positions of all parts of the system at any instant of time. </dd>
In general, the number of degrees of freedom equals the number of independent generalized displacements that are possible. </dd>

References

This article is based on NASA's Dictionary of Technical Terms for Aerospace Use