1. Aim: How does changing velocity affect an object’s motion?
Acceleration
Aim: How does changing velocity affect an object’s motion?

2. Acceleration Vector The change in velocity per unit time Time
Unit: seconds (s)

3. Details on Acceleration
When an object speeds up it has a POSITIVE ACCELERATION
When an object slows down or speeds up in the NEGATIVE direction (backwards) it has a NEGATIVE ACCELERATION
When a moving object has a POSITIVE velocity and slows down to a STOP, the object is DECELERATING
Even when an object is changing direction, whether making a left, right, etc., it is still considered accelerating; just in a different direction

4. Positive Velocity & Positive Acceleration
Negative Velocity & Negative Acceleration

5. Positive Velocity & Negative Acceleration
Negative Velocity & Positive Acceleration

6. Positive Acceleration Negative Acceleration (Deceleration)
Constant Speed
Positive Acceleration
Negative Acceleration (Deceleration)

7. How to Receive Full Credit when Solving Physics Problems
List ALL your given values WITH UNITS
Write the ORIGINAL EQUATION you will use to solve the problem(s)
Plug your values into your equation
Do Maths
Write the correct answer WITH CORRECT UNITS
Missing/Incorrect units are the primary source of lost points. Please be careful and don’t be lazy!
Necessary units for all numbers must be WRITTEN at least ONCE to receive full credit

8. Two Methods
A car travels 100 meters in 20 seconds. Calculate the car’s speed
Recommended Method
Alternate Method

9. Example #1
The Ferrari 458 can go from zero to 60mph (26.8m/s) in 3 seconds. Calculate the acceleration of the car in m/s2

10. Example #2
A car traveling at 60m/s slows down to a speed of 20m/s in four seconds. Determine the car’s acceleration

11. Example #3
A typical F1 race car can accelerate at a rate of 12.2m/s2. How long will it take the car to reach a speed of 53.6m/s if it starts from rest?

12. SUMMARY Define Acceleration What are the units for acceleration?
How would you calculate acceleration?
What are some things you need to consider when solving future physics problems?