"Trajectory" question for my novel

[msjhord]

I am in the midst of penning a novel and need help with a physical analogy. I've scoured google for an answer and, perhaps because I have a headache right now, my eyeballs are swimming. So, I figured I should come here and ask.

An object (in this case, a person's career) is on a trajectory. That trajectory is interrupted by an event (in this case, a workplace shooting). In physics terms, what would that event be? Or should I find a different analogy?

 

[berkeman]

Welcome to the PF.

You could call it a "perturbation" of the trajectory, although I'm not sure that's a soft enough word for a novel...

 

[Borek]

Collision.

 

[Orodruin]

Sorry, but your question has nothing to do with physics.

 

[msjhord]

@Orodruin, perhaps not. But objects on trajectories are a PHYSICS thing, right? I just want to make sure I'm using the correct terminology since my narrator is a pediatrician. As a person of science, she would use the correct term. Plus, I don't want physics folk to read this years from now and snicker at my incorrect term use.

 

[berkeman]

Sorry, but your question has nothing to do with physics.

Thread moved to the General Discussion forum.

 

[Orodruin]

But objects on trajectories are a PHYSICS thing, right?

Yes, but a carreer is not a physical object that follows a trajectory. The colloquial use of the word is more loose.

 

[msjhord]

(holds her head, mutters 'oy vey') Yeah, I know. It's just a comparison between the physical and figurative.

 

[Drakkith]

I'm with Borek. Collision sounds good to me.

 

[berkeman]

An object (in this case, a person's career) is on a trajectory. That trajectory is interrupted by an event (in this case, a workplace shooting). In physics terms, what would that event be? Or should I find a different analogy?

If the event ends up changing the trajectory of their career, you could call it a "deflection"...

 

[Bystander]

trajectory is interrupted by an event

"Interruption."

 

[msjhord]

It's more of a terminal thing. Her career is on a path. The event happens and she abandons the path to take up another.

 

[kuruman]

How about scattering (event)?

 

[Drakkith]

It's more of a terminal thing. Her career is on a path. The event happens and she abandons the path to take up another.

Here are some possibilities: http://www.thesaurus.com/browse/collision?s=t
Most of those should be perfectly viable.

 

[msjhord]

Thank you

 

[kuruman]

Most of those should be perfectly viable.

These synonyms are good, but not all of them, thud e.g., are within OP's constraint of "physics terms."

 

[msjhord]

Yeah, I want a physics term, but not one that is so far beyond an elementary understanding of it. Most people don't want to have dictionary.com pulled up while they're reading a book. I happen to be one of the few who doesn't mind because I love learning new words.

 

[phinds]

It's more of a terminal thing. Her career is on a path. The event happens and she abandons the path to take up another.

Disruption

 

[msjhord]

Oooh, I think I like that one.

 

[berkeman]

@phinds is often a disruption...

 

[msjhord]

I appreciate this help. I'm 41 years old and have an Associates in Business Administration that, working as a cashier for this country's largest retailer (no, not Amazon, though I wish), I never use. Because I discovered, after ten years of office work that I HATE it. So, when I'm not working and being wife and mom, I am either sleeping, reading, or writing. I have never taken a physics course in my life, unless ninth grade physical science counts. I understand some of the principles, but a lot of it sails RIGHT over my head or makes my eyes glaze over.

 

[phinds]

@phinds is often a disruption...

OOOH BOY do you owe me for that setup

 

[kuruman]

@phinds is often a disruption...

While we are in the realm of dis, how about dislocation?

 

[Mark44]

An object (in this case, a person's career) is on a trajectory.

As written, this isn't a good metaphor. A trajectory is just an arc of some kind. The person's career could be following an upward trajectory (which I think is what you're trying to convey), or it could be on a downward trajectory, due to one or more events in the person's life.

 

[Drakkith]

These synonyms are good, but not all of them, thud e.g., are within OP's constraint of "physics terms."

Isn't 'thud' the 13th derivative of 'slam'?

 

[kuruman]

Isn't 'thud' the 13th derivative of 'slam'?

Now that you mention it, 'thud' would be a physics term after all, but I think you got the incorrect order of derivative. The sequence of derivatives is 'slam', 'dunk', 'oops', 'thud', 'splat'.

 

[gmax137]

It's more of a terminal thing. Her career is on a path. The event happens and she abandons the path to take up another.

"Radiative Capture"
Neutron on a trajectory collides with nucleus; gamma comes out...

too technical, I know...

 

[Purdum]

The image/word that comes to mind is intercepted. The image/word that comes to mind is intercepted. The picture was an intercontinental missile (career) being shot down by interceptor missile (event)

 

[berkeman]

As written, this isn't a good metaphor.

Good point. Maybe we should try to help her with alternative metaphors?

There is the metaphor of climbing a mountain in the winter, and falling into a crevasse...

Or the Metaphor of riding big waves at Mavericks, and then...