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Understanding Acceleration Concepts

The document defines and explains acceleration. It states that acceleration is the rate at which an object's velocity is changing, measured in units of length/time^2. It provides the equations for average acceleration, instantaneous acceleration, and defines acceleration as the second derivative of position with respect to time. The document then discusses constant acceleration as a special case, providing the equations for velocity and position under constant acceleration.

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Dan Mc
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16 views1 page

Understanding Acceleration Concepts

The document defines and explains acceleration. It states that acceleration is the rate at which an object's velocity is changing, measured in units of length/time^2. It provides the equations for average acceleration, instantaneous acceleration, and defines acceleration as the second derivative of position with respect to time. The document then discusses constant acceleration as a special case, providing the equations for velocity and position under constant acceleration.

Uploaded by

Dan Mc
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

2.

5) Acceleration
Acceleration: The rate at which somethings velocity is changing at a given instant; always length

/ time
2

o Average Acceleration (aavg) = (v2 v1)/(t2 t1) = v/t
o Instantaneous Acceleration/ Acceleration (a) = dv / dt
Combine this with v = (dx / dt) and you get a = (d / dt)(dx / dt) = (d
2
x / dt
2
)
Acceleration is the second derivative of position x(t) with respect to time
o g units of acceleration: 1g= 9.8 m/s
2


2.6) Constant Acceleration: A Special Case (Properties Specially Derived for Constant or Approx. Constant
Acceleration)
Can rewrite (v2 v1)/(t2 t1) = v/t as a = aavg = (v v0)/(t 0) *v0 is the velocity at t = 0*
o v = v0 + at
Likewise, rewrite vavg = x/t = (x2 x1)/(t2 t1) as vavg = (x x0)/(t 0) * x0 is the position at t = 0
o vavg = (v0 + v)/2 -> vavg = v0 + (at)/2 -> (Substitute that into x = x0 x + x0 + (at
2
)/2
o

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