Jerk (physics)
![Animation showing a four-position external Geneva drive in operation](/Images/godic/202501/21/Animiertes_Prinzip_Malteserkreuzgetriebe_3D2454.gif")
![Timing diagram over one rev. for angle, angular velocity, angular acceleration, and angular jerk](/Images/godic/202501/21/Chronogrammes_croix_malte_4_branches_complet.svg2454.png")
![Compression wave patternsPlane waveCylindrical symmetry](/Images/godic/202501/21/Onde_compression_impulsion_1d_30_petit2454.gif")
![](/Images/godic/202501/21/Ondes_cisaillement_2d_20_petit2454.gif")
In physics, jerk, also known as jolt, surge, or lurch, is the rate of change of acceleration; that is, the derivative of acceleration with respect to time, and as such the second derivative of velocity, or the third derivative of position. Jerk is defined by any of the following equivalent expressions: