Unit 1: Learning Target 1.4 Calculate Velocity (speed) & Acceleration using a mathematical equation.

Speed & Velocity Calculations Speed and Velocity have slightly different meanings. Speed is distance traveled per unit of time and Velocity is distance traveled per unit of time in a specific direction. Mathematically however they are calculated with the same equation: Speed (cm/sec) = Distance (cm) ÷ Time (sec) Velocity (cm/sec) = Distance (cm) ÷ Time (sec) with direction specified. Note: there are three versions of this equation, one for each component: velocity, distance, and time. The three versions are: Velocity = Distance/Time Distance = Velocity × Time Time = Distance/Velocity

a Velocity (speed) Calculation: Example: What is the velocity (speed with direction) of an object that travels 3583.0 km in 3.5 hrs? Velocity = Distance / Time V = 3583.0 km / 3.5 hrs V = 1023.7 km/hr For more examples visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oRKxmXwLvUU

Acceleration Acceleration is the change in velocity (or the change in speed and/or direction). Speeding up & Slowing down is considered acceleration. Note: Speeding Up is Positive Acceleration. Slowing Down is Negative Acceleration (also called deceleration) Changing direction is considered acceleration. These two changes (speed up/down & direction) can happen independently or simultaneously. Acceleration is calculated with the following formula: Acceleration = (Final Velocity – Beginning Velocity) / Time

Acceleration Calculations A roller-coaster car accelerates from 2.4 m/sec at the top of a hill to 13.2 m/sec at the bottom of the hill. The car took 3.6 seconds go from the top to the bottom. What is the acceleration of the roller-coaster car? Acceleration = (Final Velocity – Initial Velocity) / Time A = (13.2 m/sec – 2.4 m/sec) / 3.6 seconds A = 3 m/sec/sec For more acceleration examples visit the following website: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FOkQszg1-j8