Chapter 6A.

Acceleration
AA PowerPoint
PowerPoint Presentation
Presentation by
by
Paul
Paul E.
E. Tippens,
Tippens, Professor
Professor of
of Physics
Physics
Southern
Southern Polytechnic
Polytechnic State
State University
University

© 2007
The Cheetah: A cat that is built for speed. Its strength and
agility allow it to sustain a top speed of over 100 km/h. Such
speeds can only be maintained for about ten seconds.
Photo © Vol. 44 Photo Disk/Getty
Objectives: After completing this
module, you should be able to:
• Define and apply concepts of average and
instantaneous velocity and acceleration.
• Solve problems involving initial and final
velocity, acceleration, displacement, and time.
• Demonstrate your understanding of directions
and signs for velocity, displacement, and
acceleration.
• Solve problems involving a free-falling body in
a gravitational field.
 Uniform Acceleration
in One Dimension:
• Motion is along a straight line (horizontal,
vertical or slanted).
• Changes in motion result from a CONSTANT
force producing uniform acceleration.
• The cause of motion will be discussed later.
Here we only treat the changes.
• The moving object is treated as though it
were a point particle.
 Distance and Displacement
Distance
Distance isis the
the length
length of
of the
the actual
actual path
path
taken
taken by
by anan object.
object. Consider
Consider travel
travel from
from
point
point AA to
to point
point BB in
in diagram
diagram below:
below:

Distance s is a scalar
quantity (no direction):
B
s = 20 m
Contains magnitude only
A and consists of a
number and a unit.
(20 m, 40 mi/h, 10 gal)
 Distance and Displacement
Displacement
Displacement isis the
the straight-line separation
straight-line separation
of
of two
two points
points in
in aa specified
specified direction.
direction.

A vector quantity:
D = 12 m, 20o B
Contains magnitude
A AND direction, a

number, unit & angle.
(12 m, 300; 8 km/h, N)
 Distance and Displacement
•• For
For motion
motion along
along xx or
or yy axis,
axis, the
the displacement
displacement isis
determined
determined byby the
the xx or
or yy coordinate
coordinate of
of its
its final
final
position.
position. Example:
Example: Consider
Consider aa car
car that
that travels
travels 88 m,
m, EE
then
then 12
12 m,
m, W.
W.

Net displacement D is
from the origin to the
D 8 m,E
final position:
x
D
D== 44 m,
m, W
W
x = -4 x = +8
What is the distance 12 m,W
traveled? 20 m !!
 The Signs of Displacement
• Displacement is positive (+) or
negative (-) based on LOCATION.
Examples:
2m
The displacement is
the y-coordinate.
Whether motion is
-1 m
up or down, + or - is
based on LOCATION. -2 m

The
The direction
direction of
of motion
motion does
does not
not matter!
matter!
 Definition of Speed
•• Speed
Speed isis the
the distance
distance traveled
traveled per
per unit
unit
of
of time
time (a
(a scalar
scalar quantity).
quantity).
s 20 m
s = 20 m B v= =
t 4s
A
vv == 55 m/s
m/s

Not direction dependent!

Time t = 4 s
 Definition of Velocity
•• Velocity
Velocity is
is the
the displacement
displacement per
per
unit
unit of
of time.
time. (A
(A vector
vector quantity.)
quantity.)

s = 20 m B D 12 m
v 
D=12 m t 4s
A
20o
vv = 3 m/s at 2000 N of E
= 3 m/s at 20 N of E

Time t = 4 s Direction required!

Example 1. A runner runs 200 m, east, then
changes direction and runs 300 m, west. If
the entire trip takes 60 s, what is the average
speed and what is the average velocity?

Recall that average

s2 = 300 m s1 = 200 m
speed is a function
only of total distance
and total time: start

Total distance: s = 200 m + 300 m = 500 m

total path 500 m Avg. speed

Average speed  
time 60 s 8.33 m/s
Direction does not matter!
Example 1 (Cont.) Now we find the average
velocity, which is the net displacement divided
by time. In this case, the direction matters.
t = 60 s
x f  x0 xf = -100 m
v x1= +200 m
t
x0 = 0 m; xf = -100 m xo = 0

Direction of final
100 m  0
v  1.67 m/s displacement is to
60 s the left as shown.
Average velocity: v  1.67 m/s, West

Note: Average velocity is directed to the west.

Example 2. A sky diver jumps and falls for
600 m in 14 s. After chute opens, he falls
another 400 m in 150 s. What is average
speed for entire fall?
14 s
Total distance/ total time:
x A  xB 600 m + 400 m A
v  625 m
t A  tB 14 s + 150 s
1000 m
v v  6.10 m/s
164 s B
Average
Average speed
speed isis aa function
function 356 m
only
only of
of total
total distance
distance traveled
traveled
and
and the
the total
total time
time required.
required. 142 s
 Examples of Speed
Orbit
2 x 104 m/s
Light = 3 x 108 m/s

Jets = 300 m/s Car = 25 m/s

 Speed Examples (Cont.)

Runner = 10 m/s

Glacier = 1 x 10-5 m/s

Snail = 0.001 m/s

 Average Speed and
Instantaneous Velocity
 The
The average
average speed
speed depends
depends ONLY
ONLY onon the
the
distance
distance traveled
traveled and
and the
the time
time required.
required.

s = 20 m B The
The instantaneous
instantaneous
C velocity
velocity isis the
the magn-
magn-
A itude
itude and
and direction
direction of of
the
the speed
speed at at aa par-
par-
ticular
ticular instant.
instant. (v (v at
at
Time t = 4 s point
point C)C)
 The Signs of Velocity
 Velocity
Velocity isis positive
positive (+)
(+) or
or negative
negative ((-)
-)
based
based on
on direction
direction of
of motion.
motion.

+ - First
First choose
choose + + direction;
direction;
+ then vv isis positive
then positive ifif motion
motion
isis with
with that
that direction,
direction, and and
negative
negative ifif itit isis against
against that
that
+
- direction.
direction.
Average and Instantaneous v
Average Velocity: Instantaneous Velocity:
x x2  x1 x
vavg   vinst  (t  0)
t t2  t1 t

slope

Displacement, x
x2
x
x
x1
t
t

t1 t2 Time
 Definition of Acceleration
 An acceleration is the change in velocity
per unit of time. (A vector quantity.)
 A change in velocity requires the
application of a push or pull (force).

A formal treatment of force and acceleration will

be given later. For now, you should know that:

• The direction of accel- • The acceleration is

eration is same as proportional to the
direction of force. magnitude of the force.
 Acceleration and Force

F
a

2F 2a

Pulling
Pulling the
the wagon
wagon with with twice
twice the
the force
force
produces
produces twice
twice thethe acceleration
acceleration and
and
acceleration
acceleration isis in
in direction
direction of
of force.
force.
 Example of Acceleration

+ Force
t=3s

v0 = +2 m/s vf = +8 m/s

The wind changes the speed of a boat

from 2 m/s to 8 m/s in 3 s. Each
second the speed changes by 2 m/s.

Wind
Wind force
force isis constant,
constant, thus
thus acceleration
acceleration isis constant.
constant.
 The Signs of Acceleration
•• Acceleration
Acceleration isis positive
positive ((+)
+) or
or negative
negative
((-)
-) based
based on
on the
the direction
direction of
of force
force..

+ Choose
Choose + + direction
direction first.
first.
F a (-) Then
Then acceleration
acceleration aa will
will
have
have the
the same
same sign
sign as
as
that
that of
of the
the force
force FF —
—
a(+) regardless
regardless ofof the
the
F direction
direction of
of velocity.
velocity.
Average and Instantaneous a
v v2  v1 v
aavg   ainst  (t  0)
t t2  t1 t

slope
v2
v
v
v1
t
t

t1 t2 time
 Example 3 (No change in direction): A constant
force changes the speed of a car from 8 m/s to
20 m/s in 4 s. What is average acceleration?

+ Force
t=4s

v1 = +8 m/s v2 = +20 m/s

Step 1. Draw a rough sketch.

Step 2. Choose a positive direction (right).
Step 3. Label given info with + and - signs.
Step 4. Indicate direction of force F.
 Example 3 (Continued): What is average
acceleration of car?

+ Force
t=4s

v1 = +8 m/s v2 = +20 m/s

Step 5. Recall definition 20 m/s - 8 m/s

of average acceleration.
a   3 m/s
4s
v v2  v1
aavg  
t t2  t1
a  3 m/s, rightward
Example 4: A wagon moving east at 20 m/s
encounters a very strong head-wind, causing it
to change directions. After 5 s, it is traveling
west at 5 m/s. What is the average
acceleration? (Be careful of signs.)

+ Force
E
vf = -5 m/s vo = +20 m/s

Step 1. Draw a rough sketch.

Step 2. Choose the eastward direction as positive.
Step 3. Label given info with + and - signs.
Example 4 (Cont.): Wagon moving east at 20 m/s
encounters a head-wind, causing it to change
directions. Five seconds later, it is traveling west at
5 m/s. What is the average acceleration?

Choose
Choose the
the eastward
eastward direction
direction as
as positive.
positive.
Initial velocity, vvoo =
Initial velocity, = +20
+20 m/s,
m/s, east
east (+)
(+)
Final velocity, vvff =
Final velocity, = --5
5 m/s,
m/s, west
west ((-)
-)
The
The change
change in velocity, vv =
in velocity, = vvff -- vv00
vv =
= ((-5
-5 m/s)
m/s) -- (+20
(+20 m/s)
m/s) =
= --25
25 m/s
m/s
 Example 4: (Continued)
+ Force
E
vo = +20 m/s
vf = -5 m/s
v = (-5 m/s) - (+20 m/s) = -25 m/s

v vf - vo -25 m/s
aavg = = a=
t tf - to 5s

Acceleration is directed to
aa =
= -- 55 m/s
m/s22 left, west (same as F).
 Signs for Displacement
+ C Force
D E
A B
vf = -5 m/s vo = +20 m/s a = - 5 m/s2

Time t = 0 at point A. What are the signs

(+ or -) of displacement at B, C, and D?
At B, x is positive, right of origin
At C, x is positive, right of origin
At D, x is negative, left of origin
 Signs for Velocity
+ x=0
C Force
D E
A B
vf = -5 m/s vo = +20 m/s a = - 5 m/s2

What are the signs (+ or -) of velocity at

points B, C, and D?
 At B, v is zero - no sign needed.
 At C, v is positive on way out and
negative on the way back.
 At D, v is negative, moving to left.
 Signs for Acceleration
+ C Force
D E
A B
vf = -5 m/s vo = +20 m/s a = - 5 m/s2

What are the signs (+ or -) of acceleration at

points B, C, and D?
 At B, C, and D, a = -5 m/s, negative
at all points.
 The force is constant and always directed
to left, so acceleration does not change.
 Definitions
Average velocity:

x x2  x1
vavg  
t t2  t1

Average acceleration:

v v2  v1
aavg  
t t2  t1
 Velocity for constant a
Average velocity: Average velocity:


x x f  x0

v0  v f
vavg
t t f  t0 vavg 
2
Setting to = 0 and combining we have:

v0  v f
x  x0  t
2
Example 5: A ball 5 m from the bottom of an
incline is traveling initially at 8 m/s. Four seconds
later, it is traveling down the incline at 2 m/s. How
far is it from the bottom at that instant?

+ x F
vf
vo
5m -2 m/s
8 m/s t=4s Careful

vo + v f 8 m/s + (-2 m/s)

x = xo + t =5m+ (4 s)
2 2
 (Continued)
+ F
x
vf
vo
5m -2 m/s
8 m/s t=4s

8 m/s + (-2 m/s)

x=5m+ (4 s)
2
8 m/s - 2 m/s
x=5m+ (4 s) xx == 17
17 m
m
2
 Constant Acceleration
v v f  v0
Acceleration: a avg  
t t f  t0

Setting to = 0 and solving for v, we have:

v f  v0  at

Final velocity = initial velocity + change in velocity

 Acceleration in our Example
+ F
v f  v0  at x v
vo
v f  v0
a 5m -2 m/s
t 8 m/s t=4s

(2 m/s)  (8 m/s)

a  2 m/s 2

4s
The force
What is the
changing
meaning
aa = -2.50 m/s
= -2.50 m/s
22
of negative
speed for a?
signplane!
is down
Formulas based on definitions:
v0  v f
x  x0  t v f  v0  at
2
Derived formulas:
formulas
x  x0  v0t  at 1
2
2
x  x0  v f t  at
1
2
2

2a ( x  x0 )  v  v
2
f
2
0

For constant acceleration only

Use of Initial Position x0 in Problems.

0 v0  v f IfIf you
you choose
choose the the
x  x0  t origin
origin ofof your
your x,yx,y
2 axes
axes at at the
the point
point of of
0 the
the initial
initial position,
position,
x  x0  v0t  at 1 2
2 you
you can set xx00 =
can set = 0,
0,
0 simplifying
simplifying these
these
x  x0  v f t  at 1
2
2
equations.
equations.
0 The xo term is very
2a ( x  x0 )  v  v 2
f
2
0 useful for studying
problems involving
v f  v0  at motion of two bodies.
Review of Symbols and Units

Displacement ((x,
•• Displacement x, xxoo);
); meters
meters ((m
m))
Velocity ((v,
•• Velocity v, vvoo);
); meters
meters per
per second
second ((m/s
m/s))
•• Acceleration ( ); meters per s22 (m/s22)
Acceleration (a); meters per s (m/s )
a

Time ((t);
•• Time t); seconds
seconds ((ss))

Review sign convention for each symbol

 The Signs of Displacement
•• Displacement
Displacement isis positive
positive (+)
(+) or
or
negative
negative ((-)
-) based
based on
on LOCATION
LOCATION..

2m The displacement is
the y-coordinate.
Whether motion is
-1 m up or down, + or - is
-2 m based on LOCATION.
 The Signs of Velocity
•• Velocity
Velocity isis positive
positive (+)
(+) or
or negative
negative ((-)
-)
based
based on
on direction
direction of
of motion
motion..
+
+ - First choose + direction;
then velocity v is positive
if motion is with that +
direction, and negative if
+
- it is against that positive
direction.
Acceleration Produced by Force
•• Acceleration
Acceleration isis ((+)
+) or
or ((-)
-) based
based on
on
direction
direction of force ((NOT
of force NOT based on vv).
based on ).

A push or pull (force) is

F a(-) necessary to change
velocity, thus the sign of
a is same as sign of F.

F a(+) More will be said later

on the relationship
between F and a.
 Problem Solving Strategy:
 Draw and label sketch of problem.
 Indicate + direction and force direction.
 List givens and state what is to be found.
Given: ____, _____, _____ (x,v,vo,a,t)
Find: ____, _____
 Select equation containing one and not
the other of the unknown quantities, and
solve for the unknown.
 Example 6: A airplane flying initially at 400
ft/s lands on a carrier deck and stops in a
distance of 300 ft. What is the acceleration?

+400 ft/s
v=0 300 ft
F vo
+
X0 = 0

Step 1. Draw and label sketch.

Step 2. Indicate + direction and F direction.
 Example: (Cont.)
+400 ft/s
v=0 300 ft
vo
+ F
X0 = 0

Step 3. List given; find Given: vo = +400 ft/s

information with signs. v=0
x = +300 ft
List t = ?, even though
time was not asked for. Find: a = ?; t = ?
 Continued . . . x +400 ft/s
v=0 300 ft
vo
+ F
X0 = 0

0 0
Step 4. Select equation
that contains a and not t. 2a(x -xo) = v2 - vo2

-vo2 -(400 ft/s)2 Initial position and

a= = final velocity are 2zero.
aa =
= -- 267
267 ft/s
ft/s2
2x 2(300 ft)
Why isForce
Because the acceleration negative?
is in a negative direction!
 Acceleration Due to Gravity
•• Every
Every object
object on
on the
the earth
earth
experiences
experiences aa common
common force:
force:
the
the force
force due
due to
to gravity.
gravity.
•• This
This force
force isis always
always directed
directed
toward
toward the
the center
center of
of the
the earth
earth g W
(downward).
(downward).
•• The
The acceleration
acceleration due
due to
to gravity
gravity
isis relatively
relatively constant
constant near
near the
the
Earth
Earth’s’s surface.
surface. Earth
 Gravitational Acceleration
•• In
In aa vacuum,
vacuum, all
all objects
objects fall
fall
with
with same
same acceleration.
acceleration.
•• Equations
Equations for
for constant
constant
acceleration
acceleration apply
apply as
as usual.
usual.
•• Near
Near the
the Earth ’s surface:
Earth’s surface:

a = g = 9.80 m/s2 or 32 ft/s2

Directed downward (usually negative).
Experimental Determination
of Gravitational Acceleration. t

The apparatus consists of a

device which measures the time
required for a ball to fall a given
distance. y

Suppose the height is 1.20 m

and the drop time is recorded
as 0.650 s. What is the
acceleration due to gravity?
Experimental Determination of
Gravity (y0 = 0; y = -1.20 m) t
y = -1.20 m; t = 0.495 s

y  v0t  12 at 2 ; v0  0
2 y 2(1.20 m) y
a 2  2
t (0.495 s) +

Acceleration
of Gravity: a  9.79 m/s
2

W
Acceleration a is negative
because force W is negative.
 Sign Convention:
avy==
A Ball Thrown
=-0
+
Vertically Upward
avy=
==-++ yva==
=+-- •• Displacement
Displacementisispositive
positive
(+)
(+)or
ornegative
negative((-)
-) based
based
UP = + on
onLOCATION
LOCATION. .
Release Point vya==
=-0-
•• Velocity
Velocityisispositive
positive(+)
(+)or
or
negative
negative((-)
-) based
basedonon
direction
directionof
ofmotion .
motion.
yv=
=-
a=-
Negative
Negative • Acceleration is (+) or (-)
based on direction of force
(weight).
Tippens
 Same Problem Solving
Strategy Except a = g:
 Draw and label sketch of problem.
 Indicate + direction and force direction.
 List givens and state what is to be found.
Given: ____, _____, a = - 9.8 m/s2
Find: ____, _____
 Select equation containing one and not
the other of the unknown quantities, and
solve for the unknown.
Example 7: A ball is thrown vertically upward with
an initial velocity of 30 m/s. What are its position
and velocity after 2 s, 4 s, and 7 s?

Step 1. Draw and

label a sketch.
+
Step 2. Indicate + direction
a=g
and force direction.
Step 3. Given/find info.

a = -9.8 ft/s2 t = 2, 4, 7 s
vo = +30 m/s
vo = + 30 m/s y = ? v = ?
 Finding Displacement:
Step 4. Select equation
that contains y and not v. +
0 a=g
y  y0  v0t  at
1
2
2

y = (30 m/s)t + ½(-9.8 m/s2)t2

Substitution of t = 2, 4, and 7 s vo = 30 m/s
will give the following values:

yy == 40.4 m; yy =
40.4 m; = 41.6 m; yy =
41.6 m; = -30.1
-30.1 m
m
 Finding Velocity:
Step
Step 5. Find vv from
5. Find from equation
equation +
that contains vv and
that contains not xx::
and not
a=g
v f  v0  at

v f  30 m/s  (9.8 m/s )t2

vo = 30 m/s
Substitute t = 2, 4, and 7 s:

vv == +10.4 m/s; vv =
+10.4 m/s; = -9.20 m/s; vv =
-9.20 m/s; = -38.6
-38.6 m/s
m/s
Example 7: (Cont.) Now find
the maximum height attained:
Displacement is a maximum +
when the velocity vf is zero.
a=g
v f  30 m/s  (9.8 m/s )t  0
2

30 m/s
t 2
; t  3.06 s
9.8 m/s
vo = +96 ft/s
To find ymax we substitute
t = 3.06 s into the general
equation for displacement.

y = (30 m/s)t + ½(-9.8 m/s2)t2

Example 7: (Cont.) Finding the maximum height:

y = (30 m/s)t + ½(-9.8 m/s2)t2 t = 3.06 s

Omitting units, we obtain:

+
a=g y  (30)(3.06)  (9.8)(3.06)
1
2
2

y = 91.8 m - 45.9 m
vo =+30 m/s
ymax = 45.9 m
 Summary of Formulas
v0  v f
x  x0  t v f  v0  at
2
Derived Formulas:
Formulas
x  x0  v0t  at 1
2
2
x  x0  v f t  at
1
2
2

2a ( x  x0 )  v  v
2
f
2
0

For Constant Acceleration Only

 Summary: Procedure
 Draw and label sketch of problem.
 Indicate + direction and force direction.
 List givens and state what is to be found.
Given: ____, _____, ______
Find: ____, _____
 Select equation containing one and not
the other of the unknown quantities, and
solve for the unknown.
 CONCLUSION OF
Chapter 6 - Acceleration