One simple example of a real world derivative would be the speedometer inside the car. This device shows the instantaneous rate of change, i.e. speed. More specifically it shows the speed fairly accurately that one is traveling at that moment. It is technically the derivative of the distance traveled via the car. Though the speedometer most likely uses a system based on its specific components inside the vehicle to calculate speed, the concept that of one’s speed that is truly the derivative. The speedometer is just one example of how speed is actually a real world instance of a derivative. This another example would also be the instantaneous rate of change of the speed itself, which would yield the acceleration. Both are used in the real world.
Question: What is a real world example of a derivative of the acceleration of an object? Is there such a concept that it can be explained, or is it more theoretical without much real world application?
karolmath 