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Velocity


\begin{displaymath}
{\bf v} \equiv {d{\bf r}\over dt},
\end{displaymath}

where ${\bf r}$ is the Position Vector and $d/dt$ is the derivative with respect to time. Expressed in terms of the Arc Length,

\begin{displaymath}
{\bf v} = {ds\over dt} \hat {\bf T},
\end{displaymath}

where $\hat{\bf T}$ is the unit Tangent Vector, so the Speed (which is the magnitude of the velocity) is

\begin{displaymath}
v \equiv \vert{\bf v}\vert = {ds\over dt} = \vert{\bf r}'(t)\vert.
\end{displaymath}

See also Angular Velocity, Position Vector, Speed




© 1996-9 Eric W. Weisstein
1999-05-26