Pseudovector

Definition

In physics and mathematics, a pseudovector is a quantity that transforms like a vector under continuous rigid transformations such as rotations or translations, but which does not transform like a vector under certain discontinuous rigid transformations such as reflections. For example, the angular velocity of a rotating object is a pseudovector because, when the object is reflected in a mirror, the reflected image rotates in such a way that its angular velocity is not the mirror image of the angular velocity of the original object. For true vectors, the reflection vector and the original vector must be mirror images.

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