(げんかいそくど)

げんかいそくど
noun
critical speed; limiting speed; maximum safe speed
1. critical speed; the maximum speed something can sustain
The upper speed at which a vehicle, machine, or moving body can still operate safely or stably; beyond it, control or structural integrity is lost. A technical term in physics and engineering.
限界速度(げんかいそくど)()えた。
It exceeded the critical speed.
この機械(きかい)には限界速度(げんかいそくど)がある。
This machine has a maximum operating speed.
カーブで限界速度(げんかいそくど)()えると、(くるま)制御(せいぎょ)(うしな)(おそ)れがある。
If you exceed the critical speed on a curve, the car may lose control.

Formed from 限界(げんかい) (limit) plus 速度(そくど) (speed). It names the speed beyond which safe or stable operation breaks down, and is mostly a technical term.

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

  • 限界速度(げんかいそくど)()える: to exceed the critical speed
  • 限界速度(げんかいそくど)(たっ)する: to reach the limiting speed

SIMILAR WORDS:

  • 制限速度(せいげんそくど): speed limit — the legally set maximum for a road, not a physical limit
  • 最高速度(さいこうそくど): top speed — the fastest a vehicle can go, without the safety nuance