Proper velocity by Hermann Minkowski's flat-space metric equation . Here a reference map frame of yardsticks and synchronized clocks define map position x and map time "t" respectively, and the "d" preceding a coordinate means infinitesimal change. A bit of manipulation allows one to show that proper velocity where as usual coordinate velocity . Thus finite "w" ensures that "v" is less than lightspeed "c". By grouping "γ" with v in the expression for relativistic momentum p, proper velocity also extends the Newtonian form of momentum as mass times velocity to high speeds without a need for relativistic mass. The proper velocity
Four-velocity the 3d position vector, written as a column vector The components of the velocity formula_2 (tangent to the curve) at any point on the world line are Each component is simply written In Einstein's theory of relativity, the path of an object moving relative to a particular frame of reference is defined by four coordinate functions "x"("τ"), where μ is a spacetime index which takes the value 0 for the timelike component, and 1, 2, 3 for the spacelike coordinates. The zeroth component is defined as the time coordinate multiplied by "c", Each function depends on one parameter "τ" called