1.
Definition of Acceleration: Acceleration is the rate of change of velocity of an
object with respect to time. It describes how quickly an object speeds up, slows
down, or changes direction.
Formula:
Where:
= acceleration (in meters per second squared, )
= change in velocity (in meters per second, )
= time interval (in seconds, )
Key Points:
Acceleration is a vector quantity, meaning it has both magnitude and
direction.
Positive acceleration indicates an increase in velocity.
Negative acceleration (or deceleration) indicates a decrease in velocity.
2. Types of Acceleration:
1. Uniform Acceleration:
o The acceleration remains constant over time.
o Example: An object in free fall near Earth's surface (ignoring air
resistance).
2. Non-uniform Acceleration:
o The acceleration changes over time.
o Example: A car slowing down as it approaches a traffic light.
3. Centripetal Acceleration:
o Acceleration directed towards the center of a circular path.
o Occurs when an object moves in a circular motion.
o Formula: , where is the speed and is the radius of the circular path.
3. Relationship Between Acceleration, Velocity, and Displacement:
1. Equations of Motion (for uniform acceleration):
o
o
o
Where:
o : initial velocity
o : final velocity
o : acceleration
o : displacement
o : time
4. Examples and Applications of Acceleration:
1. Free Fall:
o An object dropped near Earth accelerates downward at due to gravity.
2. Vehicles:
o Cars accelerating or decelerating during driving.
o Airplanes taking off or landing.
3. Sports:
o A sprinter accelerating at the start of a race.
o A ball being hit, thrown, or caught.
5. Graphical Representation of Acceleration:
1. Velocity-Time Graph:
o A straight line with a slope indicates constant acceleration.
o A curved line indicates changing acceleration.
2. Acceleration-Time Graph:
o A horizontal line indicates uniform acceleration.
o A varying line indicates non-uniform acceleration.
6. SI Unit of Acceleration: The SI unit of acceleration is (meters per second
squared).
7. Important Notes:
Zero acceleration means the object is moving at a constant velocity.
Acceleration due to gravity near Earth's surface is always , directed
downward.
Practice Problem: A car accelerates from rest to a velocity of in seconds. What is
its acceleration?
Solution: Given: , ,
Acceleration = .
