noun
- A curve traced by the endpoint of a velocity vector as it changes over time, used in physics and mathematics to visualize motion.
Usage: technical; mathematics and physics
Examples
- The hodograph of a projectile in uniform gravity forms a straight line.
- Engineers use hodographs to analyze the velocity changes of moving objects.
- In circular motion, the hodograph traces a circle centered at the origin.
- The hodograph provides insight into how an object's speed and direction evolve.
- By plotting the hodograph, physicists can visualize acceleration patterns.