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Glite Dictionary
hypervelocity

hypervelocity

1 9.9
A very high speed that causes unusual effects in collisions
  • noun
  • /ˌhaɪpərvəˈlɒsɪti/
  • Specialized
: hipervelocidad
  • He is also a team leader at the Institute for Advanced Technology, where his computational mechanics team develops tools and performs numerical simulations of hypervelocity impact and penetration.
  • hypervelocity stars

Examples

  • A 42-kJ HPG has been used to power a mechanical impact test system for projectiles prior to launch at a hypervelocity test range at the Arnold Engineering Development Test Center at Arnold Air Force Base in Tennessee.

    Academic text (1995)

  • While finishing his graduate degree, he worked for Honeywell modeling hypervelocity impacts on rigid armor.

    Academic text (2007)

  • Well, Cyrez was contracted to scale them down... ...to design a compact hypervelocity pulse weapon... ...the most powerful assault rifle on earth.

    Eraser (1996)

  • The HPG could also be used as a highly efficient pump stage in a two-stage light-gas gun for launching hypervelocity projectiles, as shown in Figure 7.

    Academic text (1995)

  • The spacecraft was designed to survive hypervelocity impacts when entering the atmosphere.

  • Scientists studied the effects of hypervelocity collisions in space to understand impact events.

  • A hypervelocity projectile can penetrate armor more effectively than traditional ammunition.

Surface Forms

hypervelocity singular
hypervelocities plural

Morphology

hypervelocity = velocity (transparent) = hyper + velocity

The meaning is directly compositional: 'hyper-' adds the sense of very high or excessive degree to 'velocity'.

Etymology

The word hypervelocity combines hyper- ('over' or 'too much'), the same hyper- you see in hyperactive, with velocity ('speed'). So it means very high speed, which is why it describes speeds so great they can cause unusual effects when objects hit each other.