50 Math IV: Introduction to Analytic Geometry and Calculus

Lesson 7.4: Velocity and

Acceleration Function

Learning Objectives
At the end of the lesson, you (student) should be able to:
1. Predict the location 𝑠(𝑡) of a moving body at time 𝑡 based on the given velocity
function 𝑣(𝑡)

Materials and Equipment Needed

Laptop/Netbook
Module
Graphing Notebook (this serves as your exercises notebook)
* Learning Tasks must be answered in your graphing notebook.

Learning Activities
Before our discussion on the topic presented above, let us first answer what is asked
below. The problem will serve as a pre-assessment of your knowledge in the topic.

A car is travelling from the rest along the highway according to the
velocity function (in kph) 𝑣(𝑡) = 45 + 18𝑡 2 for one hour (0 ≤ 𝑡 ≤ 1). How
far has the car traveled during this hour?

Learning Probe
Based on the activity performed, what technique did you use in solving the problem
above? Have you applied the rules of integrals before arriving at your answer?

Learning Time
In differential calculus we solved for the velocity and acceleration of a moving object
based on the given distance-traveled function. We have stated that the velocity 𝑣(𝑡) of
a moving body which has covered a distance 𝑠(𝑡) in 𝑡 time is given by the derivative
of the distance function, or
𝑑
𝑣(𝑡) = 𝑠(𝑡)
𝑑𝑡
= 𝑠′(𝑡)
while its acceleration 𝑎(𝑡) is given by the derivative of the velocity function, or

Page 50 of 64
Vision: A globally competitive university for science, technology, and environmental conservation.
Mission: Development of a highly competitive human resource, cutting-edge scientific knowledge TP-IMD-02
V0 07-15-2020
and innovative technologies for sustainable communities and environment.
No. JHS-005-IM
 For instructional purposes only • SY 2020-2021 51

𝑑
𝑎(𝑡) = 𝑣(𝑡)
𝑑𝑡
= 𝑣′(𝑡)
Suppose we are now given the velocity (or speed) of a moving object as a
function of time 𝑡 or 𝑣(𝑡) and we are interested in solving for the distance traveled by
the moving object. We simply reverse the operation. Instead of finding the derivative,
we now evaluate the integral of the given function to obtain the distance or position
function.
The Position Function
At any time 𝑡, the position 𝑠(𝑡) is the antiderivative of the velocity function
𝑣(𝑡) given by the equation

𝑠(𝑡) = ∫ 𝑣(𝑡)𝑑𝑡 + 𝐶

Since this results in a constant of integration 𝐶, the given initial values of the
antiderivative 𝑠(𝑎) will help in solving for the value of 𝐶.
Example 1
A car is travelling from the rest along the highway according to the velocity
function (in kph) 𝑣(𝑡) = 45 + 18𝑡 2 for one hour (0 ≤ 𝑡 ≤ 1). How far has the car
traveled during this hour?
Solution
To find the distance 𝑠(𝑡) that the car has traveled at time 𝑡, we first evaluate
the indefinite integral of the velocity function. Thus,

𝑠(𝑡) = ∫ 𝑣(𝑡)𝑑𝑡

= ∫(45 + 18𝑡 2 ) 𝑑𝑡

= 45𝑡 + 6𝑡 3 + 𝐶
To solve for 𝐶, we use the fact that the car started from rest. That is, at 𝑡 = 0,
𝑠(0) = 0. Hence,
𝑠(0) = 45(0) + 6(0)3 + 𝐶
=0
Thus, 𝐶 = 0.
Therefore, the position of the car at any time 𝑡 between 0 and 1 hour is given
by the function 𝑠(𝑡) = 45𝑡 + 6𝑡 3 .
After traveling for one hour with the given velocity, the car covered a distance
of
𝑠(1) = 45(1) + 6(1)3
= 45 + 6
= 51 𝑘𝑚
One of nature’s constant is the acceleration due to gravity which is
approximately equal to 10 meters per second squared or 10 𝑚⁄𝑠2 . In this book, this
downward acceleration is treated as a positive quantity/

Page 51 of 64
Vision: A globally competitive university for science, technology, and environmental conservation.
Mission: Development of a highly competitive human resource, cutting-edge scientific knowledge TP-IMD-02
V0 07-15-2020
and innovative technologies for sustainable communities and environment.
No. JHS-005-IM
 52 Math IV: Introduction to Analytic Geometry and Calculus

Example 2
Ana dropped a ball from the top of a 15-storey building at a velocity (in m/s)
equal to 𝑣(𝑡) = 10𝑡. How far has the ball fallen after 4 seconds if the time 𝑡 is
measured form the ball is dropped?
Solution
Since 𝑣(𝑡) = 10𝑡, then the position function is

𝑠(𝑡) = ∫ 𝑣(𝑡)𝑑𝑡

= ∫ 10𝑡 𝑑𝑡

= 5𝑡 2 + 𝐶
Since 𝑡 is measured from the time the ball is dropped, then 𝑠(0) = 0. This is
the initial value needed in solving for 𝐶, the constant of integration.
𝑠(0) = 5(0)2 + 𝐶
=0
or 𝐶=0
Thus, the position function for the ball at any time 𝑡 from the time it is dropped
from the top of the building is 𝑠(𝑡) = 5𝑡 2 .
After 4 seconds, the ball has fallen a distance of
𝑠(4) = 5(4)2
= 5(16)
= 80𝑚
The Velocity Function
When the acceleration function and initial velocity conditions are known, we
will be able to solve for the velocity function of a moving object by evaluating the
integral of the acceleration function:

𝑣(𝑡) = ∫ 𝑎(𝑡)𝑑𝑡 + 𝐶

Let us have an example to illustrate this.

Example 1
A vehicle is moving at an acceleration (𝑖𝑛 𝑚/𝑠2 ) given by the equation (𝑎)𝑡 =
12𝑡.
a. If its initial velocity is 0 𝑚/𝑠 or 𝑣(0) = 0, what is its velocity after 5 seconds?
b. How far has it traveled after 5 seconds if the initial position is 0 (𝑠(0) = 0)?
Solution
a. The velocity function is the antiderivative of the acceleration function. Thus,
𝑣(𝑡) = ∫ 𝑎(𝑡)𝑑𝑡

= ∫ 12𝑡 𝑑𝑡
= 6𝑡 2 + 𝐶
Since 𝑣(0) = 0, then we have
Page 52 of 64
Vision: A globally competitive university for science, technology, and environmental conservation.
Mission: Development of a highly competitive human resource, cutting-edge scientific knowledge TP-IMD-02
V0 07-15-2020
and innovative technologies for sustainable communities and environment.
No. JHS-005-IM
 For instructional purposes only • SY 2020-2021 53

𝑣(0) = 6(0)2 + 𝐶
=0
which implies that 𝐶 = 0.
Hence, the velocity function of the moving object at any time 𝑡 is given
by the function 𝑣(𝑡) = 6𝑡 2 .
After 5 seconds the velocity of the vehicle is
𝑣(5) = 6(5)2
= 6(25)
= 150 𝑚/𝑠
b. The distance function is the antiderivative of the velocity function. Thus,
𝑠(𝑡) = ∫ 𝑣(𝑡)𝑑𝑡

= ∫ 6𝑡 2 𝑑𝑡
= 2𝑡 3 + 𝐶
Since the initial position of the vehicle is 0 m, then 𝑠(0) = 0.
Solving for 𝐶, we have
𝑠(0) = 2(0)3 + 𝐶
=0
so 𝐶=0
Therefore, at any time 𝑡, the distance of the moving vehicle is given by the
function 𝑠(𝑡) = 2𝑡 3 .
After 5 seconds, the position of the vehicle from the starting point is
𝑠(5) = 2(5)3
= 2(125)
= 250 𝑚
The position of a moving object is integral of the velocity function, while its
velocity is the integral of the acceleration function.

Page 53 of 64
Vision: A globally competitive university for science, technology, and environmental conservation.
Mission: Development of a highly competitive human resource, cutting-edge scientific knowledge TP-IMD-02
V0 07-15-2020
and innovative technologies for sustainable communities and environment.
No. JHS-005-IM