Acceleration
Acceleration Acceleration can be described as changes in speed, changes in direction, or changes in both. Any change in the rate of an object’s velocity.
Change in Velocity Each time you take a step you are changing the velocity of your body. You are probably most familiar with the velocity changes of a moving bus or car. The rate at which velocity (speed or direction) changes occur is called acceleration.
A car traveling at 60 mph accelerates to 90 mph in 3 seconds. What is the car’s acceleration?
Positive acceleration Negative acceleration
A car traveling at 60 mph slams on the breaks to avoid hitting a deer. The car comes to a safe stop 6 seconds after applying the breaks. What is the car’s acceleration?
- A constant acceleration produces a straight line or linear slope (rise/run). - The slope of a non-linear velocity-time graph (rise/run) will predict an objects instantaneous acceleration. a = v/t
Free fall The constant acceleration of an object moving only under the force of gravity is "g". The acceleration caused by gravity is 9.8 m/s2 If there was no air, all objects would fall at the same speed Doesn’t depend on mass