Delta-v (physics)
Encyclopedia
In general physics, delta-v is simply the change in velocity
. The Greek letter delta is a standard mathematical symbol to represent change (and can be thought of as a fulcrum with a beginning and ending state).
Depending on the situation, delta-v can be referred to as a spatial vector (Δv) or scalar
(Δv). In both cases it is equal to the acceleration
(vector or scalar) integrated over time:
(vector version)
(scalar version)
where:
Velocity
In physics, velocity is speed in a given direction. Speed describes only how fast an object is moving, whereas velocity gives both the speed and direction of the object's motion. To have a constant velocity, an object must have a constant speed and motion in a constant direction. Constant ...
. The Greek letter delta is a standard mathematical symbol to represent change (and can be thought of as a fulcrum with a beginning and ending state).
Depending on the situation, delta-v can be referred to as a spatial vector (Δv) or scalar
Scalar (physics)
In physics, a scalar is a simple physical quantity that is not changed by coordinate system rotations or translations , or by Lorentz transformations or space-time translations . This is in contrast to a vector...
(Δv). In both cases it is equal to the acceleration
Acceleration
In physics, acceleration is the rate of change of velocity with time. In one dimension, acceleration is the rate at which something speeds up or slows down. However, since velocity is a vector, acceleration describes the rate of change of both the magnitude and the direction of velocity. ...
(vector or scalar) integrated over time:
(vector version) (scalar version)where:
- v0 or v0 is initial velocity at time t0,
- v1 or v1 is target velocity at time t1.