> Is there something specific about jerk that makes it important to optimize for, or are all position derivatives of order 3+ the same?
I think of it in terms of neck muscles. If your car is accelerating at a constant rate, you feel that as a force pushing your head back. Your neck muscles activate to compensate and keep your head still.
If the acceleration changes suddenly and aggressively (i.e. high jerk), so does the force on your neck. So either your neck muscles react quickly to counteract the new force, or your head bounces around.
Higher order derivatives also matter, but mostly inasfar as they act on the acceleration (and hence force) that you feel.
I think of it in terms of neck muscles. If your car is accelerating at a constant rate, you feel that as a force pushing your head back. Your neck muscles activate to compensate and keep your head still.
If the acceleration changes suddenly and aggressively (i.e. high jerk), so does the force on your neck. So either your neck muscles react quickly to counteract the new force, or your head bounces around.
Higher order derivatives also matter, but mostly inasfar as they act on the acceleration (and hence force) that you feel.