What is the meaning of the third derivative printed on this T-shirt?

Question

Don't be a $\frac{d^3x}{dt^3}$

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What does it all mean?

rurouniwallace · Answer 1 · 2013-07-04T20:09:11.523

56

It means don't be a jerk. The third derivative of position (i.e. the change in acceleration) is called "jerk", though it's a little used quantity. It's called jerk because a changing acceleration is felt as a "jerk" in that direction.

edited Jul 04 '13 at 20:09

answered Mar 17 '13 at 14:42

rurouniwallace

905

score 33 · Answer 2 · answered Mar 17 '13 at 14:41

33

In physics, sometimes the third derivative of position with respect to time is called jerk.

answered Mar 17 '13 at 14:41

Ben FL

341

score 2 · Answer 3 · edited Nov 10 '13 at 11:04

2

Jerk is the third derivative, fourth derivative is jump.

edited Nov 10 '13 at 11:04

Ignacio Vergara Kausel

2,172

answered Nov 09 '13 at 01:49

Quitting this forum

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What is the meaning of the third derivative printed on this T-shirt?

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