Acceleration aims
What is acceleration?
Remember a change in direction also causes a change in velocity, so this is also acceleration. Acceleration is also a vector, so it has a direction. Negative acceleration is called deceleration.
a = (v – u) t acceleration = (final velocity – initial velocity) time taken a = (v – u) t change in velocity m/s acceleration m/s2 time s
Acceleration problem A racing car accelerates from rest to a velocity of 60 m/s in a time of 4 seconds. What is the acceleration of the car? change in velocity time taken acceleration = = 60 4 = 15 m/s2 Photo credit: Edu Wagtelenberg
Acceleration problem A hungry cheetah spots a gazelle and decides to chase it. The cheetah accelerates at 10 m/s2 from rest until it reaches 20 m/s. How long did this take? acceleration = change in velocity time taken time taken = change in velocity acceleration = 20 10 Photo credit: © 2007 Jupiterimages Corporation = 2 s
Acceleration problems calculations
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