Acceleration Worksheet

Name: ____________________

Period: _______

1. A turtle has a speed of 0.50 m/s. After 6 seconds, it has a speed of 0.80
m/s. What is the turtles average acceleration in m/s? (0.05)

2. What is a sports car average acceleration if it can go from 0 m/s to 27

m/s in 6.0 sec? (4.5)

3. A school bus can accelerate from a complete stop at 1.3 m/s 2. How long
will it take the bus to reach a speed of 12.1 m/s? (9.3)

4. If a bicycle has an average acceleration of 0.44 m/s 2, and its initial

forward velocity is 8.2 m/s, what is its final velocity after 10 seconds?
(12.6)

5. What is a cars acceleration when there is an accident on the highway the

car slows down from an initial velocity of 24.5 m/s to a final velocity of 4.5
m/s in 3.2 seconds. Is it acceleration or deceleration?
(-6.25)

Average Speed and Average Velocity Problems:

1.

A car travels west 50 km for 2 hours before heading south at a rate

of 30 kilometers per hour for 1.5 hours. What is the cars average
speed and average velocity? Dont forget directions on velocity.

2.

A swimmer competes in the 500-meter free. Their swim time is 11

minutes and 32 seconds. What is their average speed in meters per
second? What is their average velocity in km/hr?

3.

A hiker has an average velocity of 5 km/hr NE for 3 hours. The hiker

traveled a distance of 10 meters east and X meters north. What
distance did the hiker travel to the north?

4.

What was the hikers average speed in #3?

5.

A cyclist travels east for 3 hours and covers 3 km before heading

north for an additional 2 hours. The cyclists displacement is in the
direction of 30 degrees Northeast. What is the cyclists average
speed and average velocity?

Momentum = mass velocity

In physics, the symbol for the quantity momentum is the lower case "p".
Thus, the above equation can be rewritten as
p=mv
where m is the mass and v is the velocity. The equation illustrates that
momentum is directly proportional to an object's mass and directly
proportional to the object's velocity.
The units for momentum would be mass units times velocity units. The
standard metric unit of momentum is the kgm/s. While the kgm/s is the
standard metric unit of momentum, there are a variety of other units that
are acceptable (though not conventional) units of momentum. Examples
include kgmi/hr, kgkm/hr, and gcm/s. In each of these examples, a mass
unit is multiplied by a velocity unit to provide a momentum unit. This is
consistent with the equation for momentum.
Momentum is a vector quantity. As discussed in an earlier unit, a vector
quantity is a quantity that is fully described by both magnitude and
direction. To fully describe the momentum of a 5-kg bowling ball moving
westward at 2 m/s, you must include information about both the magnitude
and the direction of the bowling ball. It is not enough to say that the ball has
10 kgm/s of momentum; the momentum of the ball is notfully described
until information about its direction is given. The direction of the momentum
vector is the same as the direction of the velocity of the ball. In a previous
unit, it was said that the direction of the velocity vector is the same as the
direction that an object is moving. If the bowling ball is moving westward,
then its momentum can be fully described by saying that it is 10 kgm/s,
westward. As a vector quantity, the momentum of an object is fully
described by both magnitude and direction.
From the definition of momentum, it becomes
obvious that an object has a large momentum if
either its mass or its velocity is large. Both variables
are of equal importance in determining the
momentum of an object. Consider a Mack truck and a roller skate moving
down the street at the same speed. The considerably greater mass of the
Mack truck gives it a considerably greater momentum. Yet if the Mack truck
were at rest, then the momentum of the least massive roller skate would be
the greatest. The momentum of any object that is at rest is 0. Objects at
rest do not have momentum - they do not have any "mass in motion." Both
variables - mass and velocity - are important in comparing the momentum
of two objects.

The momentum equation can help us to think about how a change in one of
the two variables might affect the momentum of an object. Consider a 0.5kg physics cart loaded with one 0.5-kg brick and moving with a speed of 2.0
m/s. The total mass of loaded cart is 1.0 kg and its momentum is 2.0
kgm/s. If the cart was instead loaded with three 0.5-kg bricks, then the
total mass of the loaded cart would be 2.0 kg and its momentum would be
4.0 kgm/s. A doubling of the mass results in a doubling of the momentum.
Similarly, if the 2.0-kg cart had a velocity of 8.0 m/s (instead of 2.0 m/s),
then the cart would have a momentum of 16.0 kgm/s (instead of 4.0
kgm/s). A quadrupling in velocity results in a quadrupling of the
momentum. These two examples illustrate how the equation p = mv
serves as a "guide to thinking" andnot merely a "plug-and-chug recipe for
algebraic problem-solving."
Check Your Understanding
Express your understanding of the concept and
mathematics of momentum by answering the following questions. Click the
button to view the answers.
1. Determine the momentum of a ...
a. 60-kg halfback moving eastward at 9 m/s.

b. 1000-kg car moving northward at 20 m/s.

c. 40-kg freshman moving southward at 2 m/s.

2. A car possesses 20 000 units of momentum. What would be the car's new
momentum if ...
a. its velocity was doubled.

b. its velocity was tripled.

c. its mass was doubled (by adding more passengers and a greater load)

d. both its velocity was doubled and its mass was doubled.

3. A halfback (m = 60 kg), a tight end (m = 90 kg), and a lineman (m = 120

kg) are running down the football field. Consider their ticker tape
patterns below.

Compare the velocities of these three players. How many times greater are
the velocity of the halfback and the velocity of the tight end than the
velocity of the lineman? Which player has the greatest momentum? Explain.

Determining the Slope on a p-t Graph

The slope of the line on a position versus time graph is equal to the velocity
of the object. If the object is moving with a velocity of +4 m/s, then the
slope of the line will be +4 m/s. If the object is moving with a velocity of -8
m/s, then the slope of the line will be -8 m/s. If the object has a velocity of 0
m/s, then the slope of the line will be 0 m/s. The slope of the line on a
position versus time graph tells it all. Because of its importance, a student
of physics must have a good understanding of how to calculate the slope of

a line. In this part of the lesson, the method for determining the slope of a
line on a position-time graph will be discussed.
Let's begin by considering the position versus time graph below.

The line is sloping upwards to the right. But mathematically, by how much
does it slope upwards for every 1 second along the horizontal (time) axis? To
answer this question we must use the slope equation.

The slope equation says that the slope of a line is found by determining the
amount of rise of the line between any two points divided by the amount of
run of the line between the same two points. In other words,
Pick two points on the line and determine their coordinates.
Determine the difference in y-coordinates of these two points (rise).
Determine the difference in x-coordinates for these two points (run).
Divide the difference in y-coordinates by the difference in xcoordinates (rise/run or slope).
The diagram below shows this method being applied to determine the slope
of the line. Note that three different calculations are performed for three
different sets of two points on the line. In each case, the result is the same:
the slope is 10 m/s.

So that was easy - rise over run is all that is involved.

Now let's attempt a more difficult example. Consider the graph below. Note
that the slope is not positive but rather negative; that is, the line slopes in
the downward direction. Note also that the line on the graph does not pass
through the origin. Slope calculations are relatively easy when the line
passes through the origin since one of the points is (0,0). But that is not the
case here. Test your understanding of slope calculations by determining the
slope of the line below. Then click the button to check your answer.

Check Your Understanding

1. Determine the velocity (i.e., slope) of the object as portrayed by the
graph below.

Determining the Slope on a v-t Graph

The slope of the line on a velocity versus time graph is equal to
the acceleration of the object. If the object is moving with an acceleration of
+4 m/s/s (i.e., changing its velocity by 4 m/s per second), then the slope of
the line will be +4 m/s/s. If the object is moving with an acceleration of -8
m/s/s, then the slope of the line will be -8 m/s/s. If the object has a velocity
of 0 m/s, then the slope of the line will be 0 m/s. Because of its importance,
a student of physics must have a good understanding of how to calculate
the slope of a line. In this part of the lesson, the method for determining the
slope of a line on a velocity-time graph will be discussed.

Let's begin by considering the velocity versus time graph below.

The line is sloping upwards to the right. But mathematically, by how much
does it slope upwards for every 1 second along the horizontal (time) axis? To
answer this question we must use the slope equation.

The slope equation says that the slope of a line is found by determining the
amount of rise of the line between any two points divided by the amount
of run of the line between the same two points. A method for carrying out
the calculation is
a.
b.
c.
d.

Pick two points on the line and determine their coordinates.

Determine the difference in y-coordinates for these two points (rise).
Determine the difference in x-coordinates for these two points (run).
Divide the difference in y-coordinates by the difference in xcoordinates
(rise/run or slope).

The diagram below shows this method being applied to determine the slope
of the line. Note that three different calculations are performed for three
different sets of two points on the line. In each case, the result is the same:
the slope is 10 m/s/s.

Observe that regardless of which two points on the line are chosen for the
slope calculation, the result remains the same - 10 m/s/s.
Check Your Understanding
Consider the velocity-time graph below. Determine the acceleration (i.e.,
slope) of the object as portrayed by the graph.

Using Equations as a Recipe for Algebraic Problem-Solving

The momentum lost by one object is equal to the momentum gained by
another object. For collisions occurring in an isolated system, there are no
exceptions to this law. This law becomes a powerful tool in physics because
it allows for predictions of the before- and after-collision velocities (or mass)
of an object. In this portion of Lesson 2, the law of momentum conservation
will be used to make such predictions. The law of momentum conservation
will be combined with the use of a "momentum table" and some algebra
skills to solve problems involving collisions occurring in isolated systems.
Consider the following problem:
A 15-kg medicine ball is thrown at a velocity of 20 km/hr to a 60-kg person
who is at rest on ice. The person catches the ball and subsequently slides
with the ball across the ice. Determine the velocity of the person and the
ball after the collision.
Such a motion can be considered as a collision between a person and a
medicine ball. Before the collision, the ball has momentum and the person
does not. The collision causes the ball to lose momentum and the person to
gain momentum. After the collision, the ball and the person travel with the
same velocity (v) across the ice.

If it can be assumed that the affect of friction between the person and the
ice is negligible, then the collision has occurred in an isolated system.
Momentum should be conserved and the post-collision velocity (v) can be
determined using a momentum table as shown below.
After Collision
(60 kg) v

Medicine ball

Before Collision
0
(15 kg) (20 km/hr)
= 300 kg km/hr

Total

300 kg km/hr

300

Person

(15 kg) v

To determine v (the velocity of both the objects after the collision), the sum
of the individual momentum of the two objects can be set equal to the total
system momentum. The following equation results:
60 v + 15 v = 300
75 v = 300
v = 4 km/hr
Now consider a similar problem involving momentum conservation.
A 0.150-kg baseball moving at a speed of 45.0 m/s crosses the plate and
strikes the 0.250-kg catcher's mitt (originally at rest). The catcher's mitt
immediately recoils backwards (at the same speed as the ball) before the
catcher applies an external force to stop its momentum. If the catcher's
hand is in a relaxed state at the time of the collision, it can be assumed that
no net external force exists and the law of momentum conservation applies
to the baseball-catcher's mitt collision. Determine the post-collision velocity
of the mitt and ball.
Before the collision, the ball has momentum and the catcher's mitt does not.
The collision causes the ball to lose momentum and the catcher's mitt to
gain momentum. After the collision, the ball and the mitt move with the
same velocity (v).

The collision between the ball and the catcher's mitt occurs in an isolated
system, total system momentum is conserved. Thus, the total momentum
before the collision (possessed solely by the baseball) equals the total
momentum after the collision (shared by the baseball and the catcher's
mitt). The table below depicts this principle of momentum conservation.

Ball
Catcher's Mitt
Total

Before Collision
0.15 kg 45 m/s = 6.75 kgm/s
0
6.75 kgm/s

After Collision
(0.15 kg) v
(0.25 kg) v
6.75 kgm/s

To determine v (the velocity of both objects after the collision), the sum of
the individual momentum of the two objects is set equal to the total system
momentum. The following equation results:
0.15 kg v + 0.25 kg v = 6.75 kgm/s
0.40 kg v = 6.75 kgm/s
v = 16.9 m/s
Using algebra skills, it can be shown that v = 16.9 m/s. Both the baseball
and the catcher's mitt move with a velocity of 16.9 m/s immediately after
the collision and prior to the moment that the catcher begins to apply an
external force.
The two collisions above are examples of inelastic collisions.
Now we will consider the analysis of a collision in which the two objects
do not stick together. In this collision, the two objects will bounce of each
other. While this is not technically an elastic collision, it is more elastic than
the previous collisions in which the two objects stick together.
A 3000-kg truck moving with a velocity of 10 m/s hits a 1000-kg parked car.
The impact causes the 1000-kg car to be set in motion at 15 m/s. Assuming
that momentum is conserved during the collision, determine the velocity of
the truck immediately after the collision.

In this collision, the truck has a considerable amount of momentum before

the collision and the car has no momentum (it is at rest). After the collision,
the truck slows down (loses momentum) and the car speeds up (gains
momentum).

The collision can be analyzed using a momentum table similar to the above
situations.

Truck
Car
Total

Before Collision
3000 10 = 30 000
0
30 000

After Collision
3000 v
1000 15 = 15 000
30 000

To determine v (the velocity of the truck), the sum of the individual aftercollision momentum of the two objects is set equal to the total momentum.
The following equation results:
3000*v + 15 000 = 30 000
3000*v = 15 000
v = 5.0 m/s
The next section of this lesson involves examples of problems that provide
a real test of your conceptual understanding of momentum conservation in
collisions. Before proceeding with the practice problems, be sure to try a few
of the more conceptual questions that follow.

Practices.
a. An airplane accelerates down a runway at 3.20 m/s 2 for 32.8 s until is
finally lifts off the ground. Determine the distance traveled before
takeoff.

b. A car starts from rest and accelerates uniformly over a time of 5.21
seconds for a distance of 110 m. Determine the acceleration of the
car.

c. Upton Chuck is riding the Giant Drop at Great America. If Upton free
falls for 2.6 seconds, what will be his final velocity and how far will he
fall?

d. A race car accelerates uniformly from 18.5 m/s to 46.1 m/s in 2.47
seconds. Determine the acceleration of the car and the distance
traveled.

e. A feather is dropped on the moon from a height of 1.40 meters. The

acceleration of gravity on the moon is 1.67 m/s 2. Determine the time
for the feather to fall to the surface of the moon.

f. Rocket-powered sleds are used to test the human response to

acceleration. If a rocket-powered sled is accelerated to a speed of
444 m/s in 1.8 seconds, then what is the acceleration and what is the
distance that the sled travels?
g. A bike accelerates uniformly from rest to a speed of 7.10 m/s over a
distance of 35.4 m. Determine the acceleration of the bike.

h. An engineer is designing the runway for an airport. Of the planes that

will use the airport, the lowest acceleration rate is likely to be 3 m/s 2.
The takeoff speed for this plane will be 65 m/s. Assuming this
minimum acceleration, what is the minimum allowed length for the
runway?

i. A car traveling at 22.4 m/s skids to a stop in 2.55 s. Determine the

skidding distance of the car (assume uniform acceleration).

j. A kangaroo is capable of jumping to a height of 2.62 m. Determine

the takeoff speed of the kangaroo.

k. If Michael Jordan has a vertical leap of 1.29 m, then what is his

takeoff speed and his hang time (total time to move upwards to the
peak and then return to the ground)?

l. A bullet leaves a rifle with a muzzle velocity of 521 m/s. While

accelerating through the barrel of the rifle, the bullet moves a
distance of 0.840 m. Determine the acceleration of the bullet
(assume a uniform acceleration).

m.
A baseball is popped straight up into the air and has a hangtime of 6.25 s. Determine the height to which the ball rises before it
reaches its peak. (Hint: the time to rise to the peak is one-half the
total hang-time.)
The observation deck of tall skyscraper 370 m above the street.
Determine the time required for a penny to free fall from the deck to
the street below.

n. A bullet is moving at a speed of 367 m/s when it embeds into a lump

of moist clay. The bullet penetrates for a distance of 0.0621 m.
Determine the acceleration of the bullet while moving into the clay.
(Assume a uniform acceleration.)

o. A stone is dropped into a deep well and is heard to hit the water 3.41
s after being dropped. Determine the depth of the well.

p. It was once recorded that a Jaguar left skid marks that were 290 m in
length. Assuming that the Jaguar skidded to a stop with a constant
acceleration of -3.90 m/s2, determine the speed of the Jaguar before
it began to skid.

q. A plane has a takeoff speed of 88.3 m/s and requires 1365 m to reach
that speed. Determine the acceleration of the plane and the time
required to reach this speed.

r. A dragster accelerates to a speed of 112 m/s over a distance of 398

m. Determine the acceleration (assume uniform) of the dragster.

s. With what speed in miles/hr (1 m/s = 2.23 mi/hr) must an object be

thrown to reach a height of 91.5 m (equivalent to one football field)?
Assume negligible air resistance.

Practice Problems
1) A block of aluminum occupies a volume of 15.0 mL and weighs 40.5 g.
What is its density?

2) Mercury metal is poured into a graduated cylinder that holds exactly

22.5 mL. The mercury used to fill the cylinder weighs 306.0 g. From
this information, calculate the density of mercury.

3) What is the weight of the ethyl alcohol that exactly fills a 200.0 mL
container? The density of ethyl alcohol is 0.789 g/mL.

4) A rectangular block of copper metal weighs 1896 g. The dimensions of

the block are 8.4 cm by 5.5 cm by 4.6 cm. From this data, what is the
density of copper?

5) A flask that weighs 345.8 g is filled with 225 mL of carbon

tetrachloride. The weight of the flask and carbon tetrachloride is found
to be 703.55 g. From this information, calculate the density of carbon
tetrachloride.

6) Calculate the density of sulfuric acid if 35.4 mL of the acid weighs

65.14 g.

7) Find the mass of 250.0 mL of benzene. The density of benzene is

0.8786 g/mL.

8) A block of lead has dimensions of 4.50 cm by 5.20 cm by 6.00 cm. The

block weighs 1591 g. From this information, calculate the density of
lead.

9) 28.5 g of iron shot is added to a graduated cylinder containing 45.5 mL

of water. The water level rises to the 49.1 mL mark, From this
information, calculate the density of iron.

10)
What volume of silver metal will weigh exactly 2500.0 g. The
density of silver is 10.5 g/cm3.