• Philofile
    62
    In physics, velocity is defined as the limit of a difference ratio. It's the differene between the position at two times divided by the time elapsed between the two positions. So there are always two positions needed, no matter how small the time duration gets. Now particles have no memory. They have a position and, so goes the argument, an instanteneous velocity. But a velocity is defined by two different positions. Positions are real. But velocities?
  • Banno
    25.2k
    Here we go again.

    It's the differene between the position at two times divided by the time elapsed between the two positions.Philofile

    That's average velocity. The instantaneous velocity is the slope of the tangent of the position-time graph at that particular instant of time, dx/dt.

    But that will not convince some folk because they didn't do enough maths at school.
  • Philofile
    62

    A differential is a difference too.
  • Hermeticus
    181
    Position = Measurement of space
    Time = Measurement of time
    Velocity = Measurement of motion

    If there is no motion, even over an infinite period of time there is no change in position.
  • Philofile
    62


    Velocity is measurement of two positions. The positions of particles change. But that goes hand in hand with two different times. But which of the two is fundamental?
  • Banno
    25.2k
    I've given you the answer. What you do with it is up to you.
  • Hermeticus
    181
    Velocity is measurement of two positions. The positions of particles change. But that goes hand in hand with two different times. But which of the two is fundamental?Philofile

    How does the position of a particle change?
  • Philofile
    62
    I've given you the answer. What you do with it is up to you.Banno

    I could have given that answer myself. Every velocity is an average one.
  • Philofile
    62
    How does the position of a particle change?Hermeticus

    It depends on the force acting on it.
  • magritte
    553

    So what's difference between speed and velocity? If I run around in a circle at 10m/sec what's my speed, average velocity, and my instantaneous velocity at t0?
  • Philofile
    62
    So what's difference between speed and velocitymagritte

    Speed is magnitude. Velocity is magnitude and direction. Scalar and vector.
  • TheMadFool
    13.8k
    I'm moving in a car (I have a velocity). I move (in my car) from New York to San Francisco. If I weren't moving (had a velocity) at all points between New York and San Francisco, how the hell did I reach San Francisco? :chin:
  • Philofile
    62


    By moving. But at no point you had a velocity. That's defined by us. Compare it with physics without time...
  • TheMadFool
    13.8k
    By moving. But at no point you had a velocity. That's defined by us. Compare it with physics without time...Philofile

    But time is consumed in the journey. My watch and my calender says so.

    Also, explain this: a person X and Y are racing each other in a 100 m dash. X wins the race i.e. X and Y can be ordered in a sequence, X first, Y second. This ordering is not spatial, both ran 100 m. In what sense can you say that X is first and Y second? Time! Velocity then is a true physical quantity.
  • Philofile
    62
    But time is consumed in the journey. My watch and my calender says so.TheMadFool

    That's exactly what my question is about. Can you remember that jewish guy in English parlament smashing his wristwatch?
  • Metaphysician Undercover
    13.2k
    Every velocity is an average one.Philofile

    Your efforts are wasted on Banno. Some people think they know everything and refuse to learn anything.

    To address your op, there is no such thing as a "physical quantity". "Physical" means of the body, where a body is a thing, or object. A quantity may be of one, or a multitude of objects. That's why quantity is an abstraction, or universal, and not something physical
  • Banno
    25.2k
    Some people think they know everything and refuse to learn anything.Metaphysician Undercover

    Indeed, on this we agree, but it seems we disagree as to who...

    Your inevitable presence here doubtless assures that this thread will have a long and unproductive continuation.
  • Philofile
    62
    To address your op, there is no such thing as a "physical quantity".Metaphysician Undercover

    Can't a body, or matter, have quantities? Mass, charge, position, maybe velocity?
  • TheMadFool
    13.8k
    That's exactly what my question is about. Can you remember that jewish guy in English parlament smashing his wristwatch?Philofile

    Perhaps he was onto something.

    Men talk of killing time, while time quietly kills them. — Dion Boucicault

    :grin:

    Jokes aside, timelessness is not something I have the wherewithal to tackle at the moment. I tried turning it over in my mind and I must admit I can't even parse the claim that time is an illusion. What does that even mean?
  • Nosferatu
    7
    time is an illusion. What does that even mean?TheMadFool

    That we invented it. It's no illusion. It's very real. But Einsteins spacetime grant Nature to much.
  • Metaphysician Undercover
    13.2k
    Can't a body, or matter, have quantities? Mass, charge, position, maybe velocity?Philofile

    These are all things we assign to the body, in predication. We might say that the body has something real, a property which corresponds to the concept assigned, but that all depends on the accuracy of the concept, in its capacity for modeling reality. That's why Banno's "instantaneous velocity" is a bad conception, when judged for truthfulness. Though it is a very useful concept, it's obvious that there is nothing real which corresponds with it.

    "Mass" is similar, in the sense of being very useful, but not very truthful. It's like a magical power which we assign to a coherent group of particles which we observe to exist as a unified body. In theory, the massive object consists of a group of parts. But the theoretical parts, in summation, of each one's "mass" cannot account for the quantity of power that the unified whole is observed to have as "mass". So to be truthful we should represent this power which is attributed to "mass", as something which is produced by magic, or magically comes into existence, when parts are unified as a whole.
  • TheMadFool
    13.8k
    If time is unreal what are colors and sounds, these phenomena being defined in terms of time (Hertz)? :chin:

    In a Timeless Universe, how are colors and tones defined?
bold
italic
underline
strike
code
quote
ulist
image
url
mention
reveal
youtube
tweet
Add a Comment

Welcome to The Philosophy Forum!

Get involved in philosophical discussions about knowledge, truth, language, consciousness, science, politics, religion, logic and mathematics, art, history, and lots more. No ads, no clutter, and very little agreement — just fascinating conversations.