Distance, Velocity, and Acceleration

The indefinite integral is commonly applied in problems involving distance, velocity, and
acceleration, each of which is a function of time.

the derivative of a distance function represents instantaneous velocity

the derivative of the velocity function represents instantaneous acceleration at a
particular time.

In considering the relationship between the derivative and the indefinite integral as
inverse operations, note that

the indefinite integral of the acceleration function represents the velocity function
the indefinite integral of the velocity represents the distance function.

In case of a free-falling object, the acceleration due to gravity is 32 ft/sec2.

The significance of the negative is that the rate of change of the velocity with respect to
time (acceleration), is negative because the velocity is decreasing as the time increases.
Using the fact that the velocity is the indefinite integral of the acceleration, you find that

Now, at t = 0, the initial velocity ( v0) is

hence, because the constant of integration for the velocity in this situation is equal to the
initial velocity, write
Because the distance is the indefinite integral of the velocity, you find that

Now, at t = 0, the initial distance ( s0) is

hence, because the constant of integration for the distance in this situation is equal to the
initial distance, write
Example 1: A ball is thrown downward from a height of 512 feet with a velocity of 64
feet per second. How long will it take for the ball to reach the ground?
Example 2: In the previous example, what will the velocity of the ball be when it hits the
ground?
Example 3: A missile is accelerating at a rate of 4 t m/sec2 from a position at rest in a
silo 35 m below ground level. How high above the ground will it be after 6 seconds?