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
Velocity-addition formula for the perpendicular and parallel components can be cast in vector form as follows, a trick which also works for Lorentz transformations of other 3d physical quantities originally in set up standard configuration. Introduce the velocity vector in the unprimed frame and in the primed frame, and split them into components parallel ( ∥ ) and perpendicular (⊥) to the relative velocity vector (see hide box below) thus then with the usual Cartesian unit basis vectors , set the velocity in the unprimed frame to be which gives, using the results for the standard configuration, where · is the dot