Mike Williams wrote:

>>0th derivative: position
>>1st derivative: velocity
>>2nd derivative: acceleration
>>3rd derivative: jerk
>
>Actually, for rollercoasters, the 4th derivative has a significant
>effect on the tendency of the passengers to vomit. It's called "jounce".

Neat.  I hadn't heard of an official name for the 4th derivative yet.  Even
though all they teach in college is position, velocity, and acceleration,
there are quite a few indistries where jerk is just as important as the
other three.  I find it curious that it isn't mentioned more often.

But from what little I've read on higher order derivatives, few industries
have guidelines/tolerances on 4th derivatives.  The space/aeronautics
industry is one.  I hadn't thought about it much, but I suppose the
roller-coaster industry might be another.

Do you have more info, perhaps a website, about "jounce" and it's relevance
to roller coasters, aeronautics, etc.?

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