On: Ask HN: Higher order derivatives in everyday life?

[onos]

It’s called jerk and it’s what gives you a whiplash feeling.

[Schroedingersat → onos]

It's also what makes you fall over on the bus or train.

You can handle a surprising amount of lateral acceleration if the jerk is low. 0.5g is pretty much like standing on a steep hill.

[bloudermilk → onos]

Fun fact: the derivatives of position after velocity, acceleration, and jerk are snap (or jounce), crackle, and pop.

Source: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fourth,_fifth,_and_sixth_der...