Velocity, acceleration, jerk, snap, crackle, pop, stop, drop, roll....

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the concepts of motion, specifically the relationships between velocity, acceleration, jerk, and higher-order derivatives. Participants explore the implications of these relationships on the nature of motion and the idea of a starting point for movement.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Technical explanation, Conceptual clarification, Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant suggests that if each change in motion is caused by a lower-level change, it raises the question of whether there is ever a true beginning to motion.
  • Another participant clarifies that acceleration is defined as the change in velocity rather than a cause of it that occurs beforehand.
  • A third participant notes that much of physics can be described using first and second order differential equations, indicating that acceleration is the second derivative of position and typically depends on position, velocity, and mass.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the nature of acceleration and its relationship to velocity, with some clarifying definitions while others question the foundational aspects of motion. The discussion remains unresolved regarding the implications of these relationships.

Contextual Notes

There are limitations in the assumptions made about the definitions of motion and the implications of higher-order derivatives, which are not fully explored in the discussion.

sassafrasaxe
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Edit: I see this was discussed in the related thread sorry for a repost.
If acceleration causes a change in velocity, and jerk causes a change in acceleration, snap causes a change in jerk, crackle causes a change in snap, pop causes a change in crackle, stop causes a change in pop, drop causes a change in stop, roll causes a change in drop... and there are infinitely more layers?
Then if every change is causes by a lower level change, is there ever a beginning to any motion? What is actually happening when things begin moving? Sorry for the dumb question.
 
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sassafrasaxe said:
If acceleration causes a change in velocity...
Acceleration is the change in velocity, not a cause of it that happens before.
 
Most of physics is captured by first and second order differential equations. For instance, the second derivative of position is acceleration which typically depends on position, velocity and mass.
 
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