Change in Velocity

Each time you take a step you are changing the velocity of your body. You are probably most familiar with the velocity changes of a moving bus or car. The rate at which velocity (speed or direction) changes occur is called acceleration.

Acceleration= final velocity- starting velocity time Change in velocity = final velocity

starting velocity

Acceleration= change in velocity time

A car traveling at 60 mph accelerates to 90 mph in 3 seconds. What is the cars acceleration?
Acceleration

Velocity(final) - Velocity(original) time

= =

90 mph - 60 mph 3 seconds 30 mph 3 seconds

= 10 mph/second

Positive acceleration

Negative acceleration

A car traveling at 60 mph slams on the breaks to avoid hitting a deer. The car comes to a safe stop 6 seconds after applying the breaks. What is the cars acceleration?
Acceleration = Velocity(final) - Velocity(original)

time

= =

0 mph - 60 mph 6 seconds - 60 mph 6 seconds

= - 10 miles per hour per second

- A constant acceleration produces a straight line or linear slope (rise/run). - The slope of a nonlinear velocity-time graph (rise/run) will predict an objects instantaneous acceleration.

a = v/t

Free fall

The constant acceleration of an object moving only under the force of gravity is "g". The acceleration caused by gravity is 10 m/s2 If there was no air, all objects would fall at the same speed Doesnt depend on mass After 1 second falling at 10 m/s After 2 seconds 20 m/s 3 seconds 30 m/s

Galileo
1600s Studied

how things fell Didnt have a good clock Rolled balls down an inclined plane Found that the speed increased as it rolled down the ramp

Galileo
Acceleration= change in velocity time t=0 t = 1 second t = 2 seconds

t = 3 seconds

Galileo
Same

things happen when things fall Didnt drop things from Tower of Pisa

final velocity can be calculated over a vertical displacement dy" during free fall using the equation:

2 v final

= 2gdy

The vertical displacement dy" that occurs during a specific time of free fall can be determined using the equation:

dy = 1/2

2 gt

Or a time interval can also be determined over a specified distance of freefall using the equation:

2= t

2dy /g

Falling
Air resistance will increase as it falls faster An upward force on the object Eventually gravity will balance with air resistance Reaches terminal velocity - highest speed reached by a falling object.

Terminal velocity
Force

of gravity is constant

air resistance increases as you speed up until the force is equal

Equal forces, no acceleration constant velocity terminal velocity