Speed, velocity and

acceleration
 speed
distance traveled
speed = v = elapsed time

Hawaii Kai Haleiwa

In one hour

50km
v = 1 hr = 50km/hr

50km This is the average

speed over 1 hour.
For shorter time
intervals it can be
higher or lower.
 Earth’s motion around the Sun

r=1.5x1011m

distance 2r = 2 x 3.14 x 1.5 x 10 11

m
V =
elapsed time = 1year 365 days x 24 hrs/day

9.4 x 10 11
m 9.4 x 1011 m = 1.1x108 m/hr
= = 8.76 x103 hrs
8760 hrs
= 1.1x105 km/hr  70,000 mi/hr
 Velocity = speed + direction
6 months later
speed = same
different direction
v
r=1.5x1011m

velocity is a “vector”: Length of the arrow = speed

a quantity that has both Direction of arrow same as
magnitude and direction direction of the motion
 Scalars and Vectors
Simple numbers: Number + direction

Speed v Velocity v
Temperature T relative positions r
Force F
Acceleration a

Campus
r Center

PSB
Acceleration ( changes in v)

change in velocity
acceleration = elapsed time
change in v
a = elapsed time
 Change in V = 100km/hr
Elapsed time = 3 sec
change in v
a= elapsed time
103 m
100km/hr
= 3s
= 33 km/hr s
3600 s
=3.6x103s
33x103m
= 3.6x10 sxs
3 = 9.1 m/s 2

“This baby goes from 0 to

100km/hr in only 3 seconds”
Different ways to change V
v v

Car speeds up a

v v

scree
ch!
Car slows up
a
 Accelerations (continued)
v

v
Car turn
s
a

In all three cases, v changes.

Therefore these are all examples of accelerations
Free Fall
 t=0 v0=0

dist 5m
vavg = = = 5m/s
time 1s
v + v 0 + v
5m vavg = 0 1 = 1
= v1
2 2 2
v1 = 2vavg = 10 m/s

t=1s v1=?

V1 = 10 m/s
 Free-fall acceleration
10m/s
change in velocity
acceleration = elapsed time
1s
10m/s
ga = = 10 m/s2
1s
This is called the “acceleration due to gravity”
and given the special symbol:
g=10m/s2
Actually g=9.8m/s2. But 10 m/s2 is close enough for us.
Free fall from greater heights
t = 0s Total
V0 = 0 distance
5m
t = 1s 5m

V1 = 10m/s
15m
20m
t = 2s
V2 = 20m/s 1 gt2
25m 2
t = 3s 45m
V3 = 30m/s

35m

t = 4s
80m
V4 = 40m/s
 Upward toss Total
height

t = 4s V4 = 0 80m
5m
t = 3s V3 = 10m/s
75m

15m
60m
V2 = 20m/s
t = 2s

25m
v0t- 1 gt2
2
V1 = 30m/s
35m
t = 1s

35m

t=0 V0 = 40m/s 0m
 Simple rule for free fall
aka: projectile motion

When Earth’s gravity is the only force

involved:

actual height = height for no gravity – ½gt2

Horizontal toss
t = 0s
t = 1s t = 2s t = 3s t = 4s
5m
20m
45m

80m
upward toss t = 4s
t = 3s

t = 2s
45m
80m
20m
t = 1s
t = 0s 5m
 dead white
Shoot communist
the European
monkey male
Shoot the DWEM: Slower bullet
Very fast horizontal toss

t = 0s
t = 1s t = 2s t = 3s
V=8km/s x= 8km x=16km x=24km
5m
20m 45m
Orbital motion is free fall
Artificial satellite
 Turning car

An object free to slide on the dashboard,

tries to follow a straight line path