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Foundations of Physics

Frame of Reference

A coordinate system along with a clock used to record positions, velocities, and times of physical events.

SI unit N/A

In depth

Frames are categorized as inertial (non-accelerating, where Newton's laws hold directly) or non-inertial (accelerating/rotating, requiring fictitious forces like Coriolis or centrifugal forces). Motion is relative to the chosen frame.

Examples in the real world

A passenger sitting inside a moving train is at rest relative to the train frame, but moving at 100 km/h relative to the station platform frame.