Acceleration

What is acceleration?
• Acceleration is a measure of the
change in velocity per unit of time
– How much something is speeding up
– How much something is slowing down
• (final velocity - initial velocity)/time
• If the velocity of an object is changing it
is accelerating (even if it is slowing
down)
 Acceleration is related to
change in velocity and time.
• If two objects have the same change in
velocity the one that changes in the
least amount of time has the greatest
acceleration
– A Mercedes applies its breaks and slows
down from 50 to 0 mph in 10 seconds. A
Lexus applies its breaks and slows down
from 50 to 0 mph in 8 seconds. The Lexus
has a greater acceleration.
 Acceleration is related to
change in velocity and time.
• If two objects accelerate over a set
time, the one that undergoes the
greatest change in velocity accelerates
the most
– A Camaro and a Mustang both accelerate
from rest (0 mph) for 10 seconds. The
Camaro gets up to 70 mph and the
Mustang gets up to 80 mph. The mustang
has a greater acceleration
 What are the units of
acceleration?
• Acceleration is always measured in
velocity (distance/time) units divided
by time units.
velocity/time
(m/s)/s
m/s*1/s
m/s2
 What are the ways that an
object can accelerate?
• Velocity can change in two ways so
acceleration can change in two ways:
– The speed can increase or decrease
– The direction can change
 What is the formula for
acceleration?
• a = (vf-vi)/t
• a = acceleration
• vf = final velocity
• vi = initial (beginning) velocity
• t = time
 Example
• A car accelerates from 10 m/s to 30
m/s in 10 seconds. What is the cars
acceleration?
 Example
• A car starts from rest and reaches
45 m/s in 9 seconds. What is the
car’s acceleration?