Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 exam•Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
The second derivative of position refers to the rate at which an object's velocity is changing over time. It measures how quickly the object is accelerating or decelerating.
Related terms
Acceleration (a(t)): Acceleration is the rate at which an object's velocity changes over time. It represents how quickly an object speeds up or slows down.
First Derivative of Velocity (v'(t)): The first derivative of velocity measures the rate at which an object's speed is changing over time. It indicates whether the object is accelerating or decelerating.
Jerk (j(t)): Jerk refers to the rate at which acceleration changes over time. It describes how rapidly an object's acceleration increases or decreases.