Presentation is loading. Please wait.

Presentation is loading. Please wait.

Speed and Acceleration

Similar presentations


Presentation on theme: "Speed and Acceleration"— Presentation transcript:

1 Speed and Acceleration
Motion and Forces Speed and Acceleration

2 Motion Change in position Did it move?
Reference point to determine movement For example, if you are in one of two cars that are driving side by side, at the same speed, it doesn’t appear that the 2nd car is moving. But if you compare it to the reference point of the land behind it, then yes, it appears that it is moving.

3 Speed Rate of change in position Speed Terms Instantaneous speed
Speed Terms Instantaneous speed the rate of motion at any given instant (speedometer) Constant speed a speed that does not change Average speed the total distance traveled divided by the total time of travel Calculating speed V = speed (velocity), d=distance, and t=time, Formula v = d/t

4 Velocity Speed that also includes a direction
m/s For example, you can be going south at 15 m/s (meters per second) and turn to the west, still going 15 m/s, and have changed velocity. DIRECTION has changed, even though your SPEED remained the same

5 Acceleration rate of change of velocity Calculating acceleration
If something speeds up, acceleration is positive.  If something slows down, acceleration is negative. Calculating acceleration a=acceleration, vf=final velocity, vi=first velocity, and t=time Formula a = (vf - vi)/t Units (m/s2)

6 Hints and Tips when working problems:
Be very careful to correctly identify final velocity and initial (first) velocity. If you do not, the acceleration will end up positive when it should be negative, and vice-versa. Always put the units for your answer. Numbers without a unit behind it are incorrect. If you have trouble remembering what numbers in the problem stand for, write them out on your paper. Example, if the problem says a cat can walk 2 meters in 360 seconds, you’d write out: d=2m and t=360s.


Download ppt "Speed and Acceleration"

Similar presentations


Ads by Google