Name:
Aim 11: How do we calculate acceleration?
Date:
A. What is acceleration?

Since velocity is a vector quantity that includes speed and direction, acceleration occurs
when the _________________ of an object changes or its ___________________ of motion changes
B. How do we apply acceleration to real life?

What happens to a ball when it rolls down a hill? _____________________________________________

What happens when a driver places their foot on the brake pedal? ___________________________

What happens to runners when they hear the sound of a gun to start a race?

When something is showing POSITIVE ACCELERATION:
the object is ____________________________
Draw a graph of a car ACCELERATING

When something is showing NEGATIVE ACCELERATION it is called __________________________:
the object is ______________________________
Draw a graph of a car DECELERATING

When something is traveling at a CONSTANT SPEED, there is _________________ acceleration.
Draw a graph of ZERO ACCELERATION
C. How do we calculate acceleration?
 FORMULA: acceleration = change in velocity
time
 SI UNIT:
Given the following scenario: Two cars are sitting at a red light. When the light turns green, both
cars accelerate to a speed of 150 m/s. Car A takes 10 seconds to do this and Car B takes 20
seconds to do this
1.Which car has a greater acceleration?
2.What was the initial velocity for each car?
3.Calculate the acceleration for both cars. Show all work
CAR A
CAR B
D. What is the difference when calculating POSITIVE and NEGATIVE acceleration?
POSITIVE ACCELERATION (SPEEDING UP)
NEGATIVE ACCELERATION = DECELERATION
(SLOWING DOWN)
A jet starts at rest and moves down the runway in a
single direction. After accelerating for 20 seconds, it
reaches a speed of 80 m/s.
A skateboarder is moving in a straight line at a
constant speed of 3m/s and comes to a stop in 2
seconds.
1. What is the initial velocity? ____________ Why?
1. What is the initial velocity? ____________ Why?
2. What is the final velocity? _____________
2. What is the final velocity? _____________
3. Calculate the acceleration of the jet
3. Calculate the acceleration of the skateboarder
4. Was your answer positive or negative? ________
4. Was your answer positive or negative? ________
5. Is the jet speeding up or slowing down?
5. Is the skate boarder speeding up or slowing
down?
Answer the following:
1. A train sitting in the station (is/is not) accelerating
2. A train pulling out of the station (is/is not) accelerating
3. A train traveling a constant 100 km/hr on a straight stretch of track (is/is not) accelerating
4. A train slowing down as it pulls into a station (is/is not) accelerating.
What is the specific type of acceleration this is called? ________________________________________
5. A car drives north for 3 miles and then drives west for 3 miles at the same speed. The car (is/is not)
accelerating. Explain why:
6. A ball is dropped from rest at the top of a cliff and reaches a speed of 29.4 m/s after 3 seconds.
What is the ball’s average acceleration? Show all work!
7. A sprinter runs with an average acceleration of 4.5 m/s2. What is the sprinter’s speed 2 seconds
after leaving the starting blocks. Show all work!