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Rokas2 Posted 21 years ago
Vocabulary

rotate on vs rotate about vs rotate around

What is the difference between 'rotate on', 'rotate about' and 'rotate around'?

I noticed the tendency to use 'rotate on' with 'axis', i.e. 'rotate on an axis' but 'rotate about a point'. However, I have come across the phrase 'rotate around an axis/ a line' recently, so again,

what is the difference between these three and when is each one of them used?



Thanks
  

Top answer

I'd say"rotate on an axis" and "rotate around a point". "Rotate around a line" conjurs up this image in my mind:

— Davkett

  • I'd say"rotate on an axis" and "rotate around a point".
  • "Rotate around a line" conjurs up this image in my mind:
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4 Answers
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I'd say"rotate on an axis" and "rotate around a point". "Rotate around a line" conjurs up this image in my mind:
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Thanks, you almost made it absolutely clear to me but there's still something I'd like to figure out.



In physics, a body may rotate around a point either inside or outside that body or on an axis which in certain cases might be outside the body as well. In case of a body rotating on an external axis, do we say 'it rotates around an axis' or 'on an axis'?
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The standard definition of rotate is 'to turn about an axis', so when you say 'rotate around an axis', it's kind of a redundancy. Yet, a lot of people say it, and write it, that way...according to Google.
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