Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 20, 2025

Fabrication of Soft Pneumatic Network Actuators with Oblique Chambers
Published on: August 17, 2018
Jerk (d(acceleration)/dt) as an operative variable in pneumatic tube transport (PTT)
Christopher J Mattiello1, Douglas F Stickle1
1Department of Pathology, Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
Background:
Jerk, the rate of change of acceleration (d(acceleration)/dt), is a known operative variable in public transportation safety, but this term has never appeared in the literature regarding pneumatic tube transport (PTT) and specimen integrity. We investigated profiles of acceleration and jerk for 2 PTT routes within our hospital system.
Methods:
Acceleration data were collected for PTT for 2 routes (A, B) using an accelerometer. Acceleration vectors (a) were analyzed in terms of distributions of jerk (da/dt), and distributions of θ, the angle between successive acceleration vectors.
Results:
Routes A and B had transit times of approximately 300 s. Acceleration vectors (a) ranged in magnitude from 0 to 8 g. For B, a > 1.2 g comprised 29.0% of results, compared to 13.5% of results for A (ratio = 2.1). Jerk ranged from 0 to 94 g/s. For B, jerk > 0.5 g/s comprised 71.9% of results, compared to 32.5% of results for A (ratio = 2.2). θ ranged from 0 to 180 degrees. For B, θ > 5 degrees comprised 59.3% of results, compared to 26.6% of results for A (ratio = 2.2).
Conclusion:
Differences in distribution in acceleration, jerk, and θ ran in parallel as variables for comparison between 2 PTT routes. Jerk and θ are likely to be operative variables in effects of PTT.
Related Concept Videos
Upward Impending Motion
To better comprehend how a screw jack functions, consider the completely unraveled thread as a block in contact with the...
Application of Pascal's Law
Hydraulic systems are used to operate automotive brakes, hydraulic jacks, and numerous other mechanical systems. We can derive a relationship between the forces in a simple hydraulic system...
Mechanical Systems
Mechanical Ventilation II: Invasive Ventilation
Negative-Pressure Ventilators
Negative-pressure ventilators create a vacuum around the chest or body to draw air into the lungs, simulating breathing. This method does not require an...
Bernoulli's Principle: Applications
Entrainment devices use a high fluid speed to create low pressures and, thus, entrain one fluid into another. Some examples of these devices are given below:
Linear Momentum in Control Volume

