Acceleration is a vector quantity that is defined as the rate at which an

object changes its velocity. An object is accelerating if it is changing its

velocity.
 VELOCITY VS. TIME GRAPH
MOTION IN ONE DIRECTION

S=0
a=0
Vel CONSTANT since a = 0
12
2 3
S=+ S=-
9 a=+ a=-
VELOCITY (m/s)

DIR = + DIR = -
All V + 6 m/s, 9 m/s 12 m/s v=+
6
1 4
S=0
3 a=0
Vel CONSTANT since a = 0

TIME (s)
2 4 6 12
8
𝒎
𝐑𝐈𝐒𝐄 ∆𝒚 ∆𝒗 𝒔 𝒎 ∆𝒗
SLOPE = = = = = = 𝐀𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 a = ∆𝒕
𝐑𝐔𝐍 ∆𝒕 ∆𝒕 𝒔 𝒔𝟐
 VELOCITY VS. TIME GRAPH
MOTION IN ONE DIRECTION SECTION 4
𝒗𝒇 − 𝒗𝒊
𝒂=
𝒕𝒇 − 𝒕𝒊
𝟑 𝒎/𝒔 − 𝟏𝟐 𝒎/𝒔
12 𝒂=
𝟏𝟐 𝒔 − 𝟖𝒔
2 3 𝒎
𝒂 = −𝟐. 𝟐𝟓 𝟐
9 𝒔
VELOCITY (m/s)

6
1 4

TIME (s)
2 4 6 12
8
VELOCITY VS. TIME GRAPH TO DETERMINE DISPLACEMENT
Another way to resolve displacement is by using the velocity time graph.

Example: The graph illustrates the motion of an automobile with time of 10 s. Determine the displacement
of the automobile.
v (m/s)

20

10

5 10
t (s)
∆𝑑 = 𝑣 ∆𝑡
𝑚
∆𝑑 = 20 (10 𝑠)
𝑠
∆𝑑 = 200 𝑚
VELOCITY VS. TIME GRAPH TO DETERMINE DISPLACEMENT
Another way to resolve displacement is by using the velocity time graph.

Example: The graph shows the motion of the jogger running for 16 s starting from rest. What is the
displacement for the time interval?
v (m/s)

12

2
3
1
2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16
t (s)
∆𝑑 = 𝐴 1 + 𝐴 2 + 𝐴 3
1 1
∆𝑑 = (4)(12) + (6)(12) + (6)(12)
2 2

∆𝑑 = 132 𝑚
The graph describes the motion of an 𝑣2 − 𝑣1
object that is uniformly accelerating. It 𝑎=
∆𝑡
starts of V 1 and reaches velocity V 2 after a
time interval ∆𝒕. The acceleration Arrange Algebraically
∆𝑣
𝑎=
∆𝑡
Since ∆𝑣 = V 2 - V 1 𝑎 ∆𝑡 = 𝑣2 − 𝑣1
𝑣2 = 𝑣1 + 𝑎 ∆𝑡
𝑣2 − 𝑣1
Then 𝑎 =
∆𝑡 VELOCITY VS. TIME GRAPH TO DETERMINE DISPLACEMENT
∆𝑑 = 𝐴 1 + 𝐴 2
velocity 1
∆𝑑 = ∆𝑡 𝑣1 + 𝑣2 − 𝑣1 ∆𝑡
2
𝑽𝟐 Since 𝑎 ∆𝑡 = 𝑣2 − 𝑣1
1
∆𝑑 = ∆𝑡 𝑣1 + 𝑎 ∆𝑡 ∆𝑡
2
2
𝑽𝟏 1 2
Therefore ∆𝑑 = ∆𝑡 𝑣1 + 𝑎 ∆𝑡
2

1 Alternate expression for displacement:

time
∆𝒕 𝑣1 −𝑣2 ∆𝑡
∆𝑑 =
2
Example
1. What is the final velocity of a ball rolling down an inclined plane with a velocity of 4.0 m/s and accelerates at 2.0
m/s2 in 5.0 s?

Given: v1 = 4.0 m/s

a = 2.0 m/s2
∆𝑡 = 5.0𝑠
Required: v2 = ?
Solution:
𝑣2 = 𝑣1 + 𝑎 ∆𝑡
𝑣2 = 4.0 𝑚/𝑠 + 2.0 m/s2 5.0𝑠
𝑣2 = 14 𝑚/𝑠
Example
2. What is the displacement of a sports car travelling at 10 m/s and acceleration at 4.0 m/s2 for 8.0 s?

Given: v1 = 10 m/s
a = 4.0 m/s2
∆𝑡 = 8.0𝑠
Required: ∆𝑑 = ?
Solution:
1 2
∆𝑑 = ∆𝑡 𝑣1 + 𝑎 ∆𝑡
2
1
∆𝑑 = 8.0𝑠 10 m/s + 4.0 m/s2 8.0𝑠 2
2
∆𝑑 = 80 𝑚 + 128 𝑚

∆𝑑 = 208 𝑚
Example
3. What is the initial velocity of an automobile that accelerates at 5.0 m/s2 and has a displacement of 114 m in 6.0 s?

Given: ∆𝑑 = 114 m
a = 5.0 m/s2
∆𝑡 = 6.0𝑠
Required: v1 = ?
Solution:
1 2
∆𝑑 = ∆𝑡 𝑣1 + 𝑎 ∆𝑡
2
1
114 m = 6.0𝑠 𝑣1 + 5.0 m/s2 6.0𝑠 2
2

114 m = 6.0𝑠 𝑣1 + 90 𝑚
24 m = 6.0𝑠 𝑣1
𝑣1 = 4.0 m/s