Acceleration

Velocity is a measure of how fast an object is moving in a certain direction.

Speed is a measure of how fast an object is moving.

Reviewing speed and velocity

Essential Question: How can forces affect motion? I can... identify and describe changes in motion.

Acceleration

So...what does acceleration look like?

changing direction

decreasing speed

increasing speed

Acceleration is the rate at which velocity changes.

Explaining Acceleration

changing lanes, driving around a curve

changing direction

negative acceleration, deceleration

positive acceleration

decreasing speed

increasing speed

Acceleration is the rate at which velocity changes.

Explaining Acceleration

Even though a car on a highway may be traveling at a constant speed, it can still be accelerating.

WHY?! Because velocity involves speed AND direction. So if either the speed or direction changes, there is acceleration.

time

change in velocity

Acceleration =

Formula for acceleration

What is the acceleration of a car that can go from 0 mph to 60 mph in 5 seconds?

time

change in velocity

Acceleration =

Let's try it

As she climbs a hill, a cyclist speeds up from 6 mi/hr to 25 mi/hr in 10 seconds. What is her acceleration?

time

change in velocity

Acceleration =

Let's try it

An airplane is flying west at 200km/hr. Two hours later, it is flying west at 300km/hr. What is the average acceleration?

time

change in velocity

Acceleration =

Let's try it

Write a word problem that requires the use of the formula for acceleration. Be prepared to switch with a partner.

time

change in velocity

Acceleration =

Now you try.

graphing acceleration

You can use both a speed-vs-time graph and a distance-vs-time graph to analyze the motion of an accelerating object.

graphing acceleration