Velocity
/vəˈlɑːsəti/noun
Speed in a given direction.
He calculated the velocity of the projectile as it soared through the air.
Often appears as...
- high velocity
- velocity measurement
noun
A quantity in physics that represents both speed and direction.
In physics, velocity also takes into account the direction of the movement.
Often appears as...
- angular velocity
- relative velocity
Usage tips
Academic
noun
The rate of change of something.
In calculus, velocity is the derivative of the position function with respect to time.
Often appears as...
- the velocity of a function
- angular velocity
Usage tips
Academic
noun
Speed in a given direction.
He calculated the velocity of the projectile as it soared through the air.
Often appears as...
- high velocity
- velocity measurement
noun
A quantity in physics that represents both speed and direction.
In physics, velocity also takes into account the direction of the movement.
Often appears as...
- angular velocity
- relative velocity
Usage tips
Academic
noun
The rate of change of something.
In calculus, velocity is the derivative of the position function with respect to time.
Often appears as...
- the velocity of a function
- angular velocity
Usage tips
Academic
Definition 1 of 3
Pro Tip 1/3Direction Matters
Unlike 'speed', 'velocity' implies movement in a specific direction.
The ball's velocity was directly towards the goalpost.
Pro Tip 2/3Not Just Fast
'High velocity' means very fast in one direction, not just fast in general.
The high velocity wind pointed northward.
Pro Tip 3/3Precise Term
'Velocity' is commonly used when precision is needed, such as in sports or driving.
He increased his car's velocity as he entered the highway.
Compare with
hastemomentumpacequickrapidityratespeedswift
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Video examples
Why the universe seems...
We are evolved denizens of Middle World, and that limits what we are capable of imagining. We find it intuitively easy to grasp ideas like, when a rabbit moves at the sort of medium velocity at which rabbits and other Middle World objects move, and hits another Middle World object like a rock, it knocks itself out.
Video examples
Ken Goldberg: 4 lessons...
We then execute that on the robot, we observe what happens, then we adjust the controls, using a sequence of techniques called iterative learning. Then what we do is we increase the velocity a little bit. We observe the results, adjust the controls again, and observe what happens.
Video examples
The sonic boom problem -...
Humans have been fascinated with speed for ages. The history of human progress is one of ever-increasing velocity, and one of the most important achievements in this historical race was the breaking of the sound barrier. Not long after the first successful airplane flights,
Video examples
Einstein's twin paradox...
was her assumption that she and Terra had equal claim to being inertial observers. To be an inertial observer, one has to maintain a constant speed and direction relative to the rest of the universe. Terra was at rest the entire time, so her velocity was a constant zero.
Video examples
How do models help us...
important equations this the important point is this is just based on drawing balls down okay so I can say how much how fast is that air have to go in order to make the helicopter hover that's this one equation up here the velocity the other one is how much power
Video examples
Elon Musk: The future...
And you've only gone and done it. Finally. It took a long time. Talk us through this. What are we looking at here? So this is one of our rocket boosters coming back from very high and fast in space. So just delivered the upper stage at high velocity.
Video examples
This thought experiment...
One of the distinctive features of the quantum world is the possibility of state superpositions, where particles’ positions or velocities can be simultaneously in two or more different states. If you can put the electron into a superposition
Video examples
Newton’s three-body...
Each has an astronomically large range of potential outcomes, dependent on the tiniest of differences in position and velocity. This behaviour is known as chaotic by physicists, and is an important characteristic of n-body systems.
Video examples
Hawking's black hole...
This refers to the quantum properties of all the particles that make up that apple, such as their position, velocity and spin. Every object in the universe is composed of particles with unique quantum properties.
Video examples
Exoplanets 101 PIPE...
including radio velocity, in which a planet causes a star to wobble. Direct imaging, where the glare of stars is blocked in order to see objects nearby. Astrometry, which observes the star's movements
Video examples
Why the universe seems...
We are evolved denizens of Middle World, and that limits what we are capable of imagining. We find it intuitively easy to grasp ideas like, when a rabbit moves at the sort of medium velocity at which rabbits and other Middle World objects move, and hits another Middle World object like a rock, it knocks itself out.
Video examples
Ken Goldberg: 4 lessons...
We then execute that on the robot, we observe what happens, then we adjust the controls, using a sequence of techniques called iterative learning. Then what we do is we increase the velocity a little bit. We observe the results, adjust the controls again, and observe what happens.
Video examples
The sonic boom problem -...
Humans have been fascinated with speed for ages. The history of human progress is one of ever-increasing velocity, and one of the most important achievements in this historical race was the breaking of the sound barrier. Not long after the first successful airplane flights,
Video examples
Einstein's twin paradox...
was her assumption that she and Terra had equal claim to being inertial observers. To be an inertial observer, one has to maintain a constant speed and direction relative to the rest of the universe. Terra was at rest the entire time, so her velocity was a constant zero.
Video examples
How do models help us...
important equations this the important point is this is just based on drawing balls down okay so I can say how much how fast is that air have to go in order to make the helicopter hover that's this one equation up here the velocity the other one is how much power
Video examples
Elon Musk: The future...
And you've only gone and done it. Finally. It took a long time. Talk us through this. What are we looking at here? So this is one of our rocket boosters coming back from very high and fast in space. So just delivered the upper stage at high velocity.
Video examples
This thought experiment...
One of the distinctive features of the quantum world is the possibility of state superpositions, where particles’ positions or velocities can be simultaneously in two or more different states. If you can put the electron into a superposition
Video examples
Newton’s three-body...
Each has an astronomically large range of potential outcomes, dependent on the tiniest of differences in position and velocity. This behaviour is known as chaotic by physicists, and is an important characteristic of n-body systems.
Video examples
Hawking's black hole...
This refers to the quantum properties of all the particles that make up that apple, such as their position, velocity and spin. Every object in the universe is composed of particles with unique quantum properties.
Video examples
Exoplanets 101 PIPE...
including radio velocity, in which a planet causes a star to wobble. Direct imaging, where the glare of stars is blocked in order to see objects nearby. Astrometry, which observes the star's movements
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
Werner Heisenberg
German Physicist
The uncertainty principle refers to the degree of indeterminateness in the possible present knowledge of the simultaneous values of various quantities with which the quantum theory deals; it does not restrict, for example, the exactness of a position measurement alone or a velocity measurement alone.
Quote examples
Benjamin Banneker
American Scientist
Standing at my door, I heard the discharge of a gun, and in four or five seconds of time, after the discharge, the small shot came rattling about me, one or two of which struck the house; which plainly demonstrates that the velocity of sound is greater than that of a cannon bullet.
Quote examples
Howard Lutnick
American Businessman
What people really haven't thought about with real estate is, if you get tax reform, you're going to see real estate now... the velocity of selling and buying real estate will just kick.
Quote examples
Ban Ki-moon
South Korean Leader
In 2009, at the height of the global economic crisis, it was clear that we were seeing something new: the impacts of the crisis were flowing across borders at unprecedented velocity.
Quote examples
Jake Arrieta
American Athlete
That's why it's so important to have that gap between your fastball and off-speed pitches: then, when you effectively locate your fastball, it plays at a higher velocity.
Quote examples
Charles Babbage
English Mathematician
The proportion between the velocity with which men or animals move, and the weights they carry, is a matter of considerable importance, particularly in military affairs.
Quote examples
Michael Leunig
Australian Cartoonist
I think we live in delusional times, whether it's with a great ability to totally distract ourselves with technology, or with speed and the velocity of life.
Quote examples
Zbigniew Brzezinski
American Politician
Given the accelerating velocity of history, we should begin charting deliberately the next phase in its trajectory.
Quote examples
Andrew Ng
Chinese Scientist
One of my philosophies of building companies is the importance of velocity.
Quote examples
Hans-Ulrich Obrist
Swiss Critic
Everything I do is somehow connected to velocity.
Quote examples
Werner Heisenberg
German Physicist
The uncertainty principle refers to the degree of indeterminateness in the possible present knowledge of the simultaneous values of various quantities with which the quantum theory deals; it does not restrict, for example, the exactness of a position measurement alone or a velocity measurement alone.
Quote examples
Benjamin Banneker
American Scientist
Standing at my door, I heard the discharge of a gun, and in four or five seconds of time, after the discharge, the small shot came rattling about me, one or two of which struck the house; which plainly demonstrates that the velocity of sound is greater than that of a cannon bullet.
Quote examples
Howard Lutnick
American Businessman
What people really haven't thought about with real estate is, if you get tax reform, you're going to see real estate now... the velocity of selling and buying real estate will just kick.
Quote examples
Ban Ki-moon
South Korean Leader
In 2009, at the height of the global economic crisis, it was clear that we were seeing something new: the impacts of the crisis were flowing across borders at unprecedented velocity.
Quote examples
Jake Arrieta
American Athlete
That's why it's so important to have that gap between your fastball and off-speed pitches: then, when you effectively locate your fastball, it plays at a higher velocity.
Quote examples
Charles Babbage
English Mathematician
The proportion between the velocity with which men or animals move, and the weights they carry, is a matter of considerable importance, particularly in military affairs.
Quote examples
Michael Leunig
Australian Cartoonist
I think we live in delusional times, whether it's with a great ability to totally distract ourselves with technology, or with speed and the velocity of life.
Quote examples
Zbigniew Brzezinski
American Politician
Given the accelerating velocity of history, we should begin charting deliberately the next phase in its trajectory.
Quote examples
Andrew Ng
Chinese Scientist
One of my philosophies of building companies is the importance of velocity.
Quote examples
Hans-Ulrich Obrist
Swiss Critic
Everything I do is somehow connected to velocity.
Example 1 of 10
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