In addition to its common meaning, stationary may have the following specialized scientific meanings:
Mathematics
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Stationary point
In mathematics, particularly in calculus, a stationary point of a differentiable function of one variable is a point on the graph of the function where the function's derivative is zero. Informally, it is a point where the function "stops" inc ...
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Stationary process
In mathematics and statistics, a stationary process (or a strict/strictly stationary process or strong/strongly stationary process) is a stochastic process whose unconditional joint probability distribution does not change when shifted in time. Con ...
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Stationary state
Meteorology
* A
stationary front
A stationary front (or quasi-stationary front) is a weather front or transition zone between two air masses when both air mass is advancing into the other at speeds exceeding 5 knots (about 6 miles per hour or about 9 kilometers per hour) at the g ...
is a weather front that is not moving
Physics
* A
time-invariant system
In control theory, a time-invariant (TIV) system has a time-dependent system function that is not a direct function of time. Such systems are regarded as a class of systems in the field of system analysis. The time-dependent system function is ...
quantity, such as a constant position or temperature
* A
steady state physical process, such as a vibration at constant amplitude and frequency or a steady fluid flow
* A stationary wave is a
standing wave
In physics, a standing wave, also known as a stationary wave, is a wave that oscillates in time but whose peak amplitude profile does not move in space. The peak amplitude of the wave oscillations at any point in space is constant with respect ...
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Stationary spacetime
In general relativity, specifically in the Einstein field equations, a spacetime is said to be stationary if it admits a Killing vector that is asymptotically timelike.
Description and analysis
In a stationary spacetime, the metric tensor comp ...
in general relativity
Other uses
* "Stationary", a song from
''Copacetic'' (Knuckle Puck album)
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