Question

What is a derivative in physics?

Answer 1

Derivative means:

1. A derivative is a rate of change, which is the slope of a graph in geometric terms.
2. In physics, velocity is defined as the rate of change of position, hence velocity is the derivative of position numerically.
3. Acceleration is the derivative of velocity since it is the rate of change of velocity.
4. Whereas the total force is the rate of change of momentum, the derivative of the momentum of the object gives the net force of the object.

Rules for derivative are:

1. The derivative of any constant is zero:$\frac{d}{dt}\left(c\right)=0$ where $\frac{d}{dt}$represents the derivative and $C$is the constant.
2. Derivative of any variable is one, $\frac{d}{dt}\left(t\right)=1$,where $\frac{d}{dt}$represents the derivative,and $t$ is the variable.
3. Derivative of any variable to the power of $n$is $\frac{d}{dt}\left(t^n\right)=n{t}^{n-1}$,where $\frac{d}{dt}$represents the derivative, and $t^n$ is the variable to power of n.