Velocity and Acceleration
Motion Reference point- stationary object that helps you determine how far something moved Distance- how far an object moves Unit- meter (m) Displacement- distance and direction of an object’s change in position from the starting point Speed – distance traveled per unit time s = d/t Speed = distance / time Unit- m/s
Speed Average speed- total distance divided by total time
Speed Instantaneous speed- speed at that moment Like your speedometer Constant speed- speed doesn’t change Distance-time graph- has time on the x-axis and distance on the y-axis Slope is speed Steeper line = faster Flat line = stopped Negative slope = moving backwards
Distance- Time Graph
Velocity If you know that a hurricane is moving at 20 km/h, and it is 100 km away from you, do you need to be concerned? Maybe- you can’t tell- it might be headed toward you or away from you!! Velocity – Speed and direction Car one is headed east at 50 mph. Car two is headed west at 50 mph. Do they have the same speed? The same velocity? Speed – yes Velocity - no
Relative Motion Are you moving if you are sitting 100% still in your chair?? YES! The earth is moving and you are on the earth, so you are moving relative to the other planets, the sun, etc. NO! Relative to the floor, you are not moving It all depends on your frame of reference Relative motion – motion depends on your frame of reference http://www.phy.ntnu.edu.tw/ntnujava/index.php?top ic=140
Acceleration Acceleration- rate of change in velocity Occurs when speed or direction changes Negative acceleration- when something slows down Positive acceleration- when something speeds up Change in velocity / change in time = acceleration Acceleration = Force / mass Units m/s2 Acceleration due to gravity = 9.8 m/s2
Velocity- Time Graph
Velocity- Time graph Slope = acceleration Flat slope = constant speed Positive slope = sleeping up Negative slope = slowing down
Design your own experiment Choose one option: You have 2 toy cars. Which one will have the greatest velocity with the same force applied to both? You have 2 toy cars. Which one will have the greatest acceleration with the same force applied to both? Or do both for extra credit!