Startfarten

Startfarten is a term used in kinematics in some Scandinavian languages to denote the initial velocity of a moving object—the velocity at the moment motion begins or at the start of a defined interval. In English, the concept is called the initial velocity and is commonly represented by v0 or u. Startfarten is a vector quantity, having both magnitude and direction, and is typically measured in meters per second (m/s) or kilometers per hour (km/h).

Calculation and measurement methods are consistent with standard physics. If acceleration is constant, the velocity at time t is v = v0 + a t, and the distance traveled is s = v0 t + 1/2 a t^2. Startfarten can be determined from known initial conditions in problems, or measured directly using sensors such as radar guns, high-speed cameras, or other motion-tracking instruments.

Applications of the concept appear across fields such as physics education, engineering, sports science, and biomechanics. For example, a car starting from rest has startfarten of 0 m/s, while a projectile launched with a startfarten of 10 m/s will follow a trajectory influenced by gravity and drag.

In related terminology, startfarten contrasts with later velocities during motion and is a fundamental initial condition in many kinematic analyses. See also velocity, acceleration, and projectile motion.

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