What is Definition of Degree of Freedom

Degree Of Freedom

An unconstrained rigid body moving in space can describe the following independent motions as shown in figure:

1)       Transnational motions along any three mutually perpendicular axes x, y& z.

2.       2)        Rotational motions about these axes.

Thus a rigid body possesses six degrees of freedom. The connection of a link with another imposes certain constraints on their relative motion. The number of restraints can never be zero (joint is disconnected) or six (jointly becomes stable).

Degrees of freedom of a pair is defined as the number of independent relative motions, both translational and rotational, a pair can have.

                                         DEGREES OF FREEDOM = 6 – NUMBER OF RESTRAINTS