What are derivatives and how are they used in physics?

What are derivatives and how are they used in physics?

Derivatives represent the rate of change of a quantity. In physics, they help describe motion, like velocity and acceleration.

Can you give me an example of how to calculate a derivative in a physics context?

Sure! If you have a position function s(t) = 5t^2, the derivative ds/dt = 10t gives you the velocity.

What does the second derivative represent?

The second derivative represents acceleration, which is the rate of change of velocity with respect to time.

How do derivatives apply to real-world physics problems?

Derivatives are used in various applications, like calculating the trajectory of a projectile or analyzing forces in motion.