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

2. 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

3. a Velocity (speed) Calculation:
Example:
What is the velocity (speed with direction) of an object that travels km in 3.5 hrs?
Velocity = Distance / Time
V = km / 3.5 hrs
V = km/hr
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4. 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

5. 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
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