1. 3.1 Acceleration

2. Acceleration The change in velocity over time
Since it is based on velocity and velocity has direction acceleration also has direction

3. Changing Acceleration
There are three ways to change acceleration
Increase the Velocity (speed up)
Decrease the Velocity (slow down)
Change in Direction
If any three of these occurs, we have a change in acceleration

4. Calculating Acceleration
Acceleration = Final Velocity – Initial Velocity
Time
a = vf – vi t
*note* If a problem tells us that an object is starting at or finishing at rest that means that the v = 0

5. Try It
A roller coaster car rapidly picks up speed as it rolls down a slope. As it starts down the slope, its speed is 4m/s. But 3 seconds later, at the bottom of the slope, its speed is 22m/s. What is its average acceleration?

6. Try it again!
A car advertisement states that a certain car can accelerate from rest to 90km/h in 9 seconds. Find the car’s average acceleration.

7. Try it Yet Again!
A falcon accelerates from 15m/s to 22m/s in 4s. What is the eagle’s average acceleration?

8. Graphing Acceleration
On a piece of graph paper, graph the data below then paste the graph into your notebook.
Change in Speed Over Time
Time (s)
Speed (m/s) 1 8 2 16 3 24 4 32 5 40