Velocity & Acceleration
I. What is Velocity? Speed in a given direction. Units Include: 1. mph east 2. m/s left C. Must have a direction – otherwise it is just a speed.
II. Acceleration A. An object changing its Velocity. B. An object changing its direction. What is the formula for Acceleration? Think about velocity & time.
C. Acceleration Formula 1. Vf = Velocity final 2. Vi = Velocity initial (starting speed) T = time over which the change in speed occurs.
Calculating Acceleraton Write the formula Plug-in the numbers & units Calculate number & round-off Record new units No Units Cancel
Practice Example What is the acceleration a of a car? If the initial velocity is 0 m/s Final velocity is 31.0 m/s What is the acceleration after 20 seconds have passed?
The Solution Note the 3-step process Units m/s2 Units m/s/s What does this mean? Every second the car is going 1.55 m/s faster than before.
Graphing Acceleration
Acceleration Simulation http://www.walter-fendt.de/ph11e/acceleration.htm