# What is the meaning of the third derivative printed on this T-shirt?

Don't be a $\frac{d^3x}{dt^3}$

What does it all mean?

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## migrated from math.stackexchange.comMar 17 '13 at 16:42

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So that's a shirt that specifically asks mathematicians and physicists to not be jerks? Because...? –  Jonas Mar 17 '13 at 16:23
–  Emilio Pisanty Mar 17 '13 at 20:06
This question is not that bad, it is about the physical meaning of the time derivate of the acceleration and therefore a legitimate physics question. So it need not to be closed or something as certain people claim ... –  Dilaton Mar 17 '13 at 20:50
An oxymoronic T shirt? :-) –  John Rennie Mar 18 '13 at 8:25
At first, I thought, "Don't be a jolt", what does that mean? Then, I remembered that in some countries, it is called "jerk". –  Dimensio1n0 Jun 22 '13 at 5:32

It means don't be a jerk. The third derivative of position (i.e. the change in acceleration) is called "jerk", though it's a little used quantity. It's called jerk because a changing acceleration is felt as a "jerk" in that direction.

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In physics, sometimes the third derivative of position with respect to time is called jerk.

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Jerk is the third derivative, fourth derivative is jump.

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## protected by Qmechanic♦Mar 17 '13 at 17:34

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