Which of the following best describes the movement in which the cam and follower operate?

The movement described for the cam and follower system is best classified as reciprocating motion. In this context, a cam translates its rotary motion into the linear movement of the follower. As the cam rotates, its shape pushes the follower in a straight path back and forth. This conversion of rotary motion (the cam's movement) into linear (the follower's movement) illustrates the mechanical principle of the cam and follower mechanism.

Reciprocating motion refers specifically to motion that moves back and forth along a straight line, which is precisely what occurs in this system. The follower, when acted upon by the cam, follows the contour of the cam's surface, causing it to rise and fall or slide in a linear path. This characteristic defines the operation of cam and follower assemblies used in various machines, including engines and manufacturing devices. Understanding this mechanism is crucial for applications in engineering where precise movement control is required.

In contrast, linear motion refers simply to movement in a straight line without association with the cam's rotational input, rotary motion pertains to movement around an axis, and oscillating motion usually implies a periodic back-and-forth movement about a central point. Therefore, these other terms do not accurately describe the specific motion of the cam and follower system.