Acceleration – Lesson Summary

This is a lesson summary. The full lesson can be viewed by purchasing an online course subscription.

Learning Objective

In this lesson we will learn about the relationship between acceleration, speed and time.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this lesson you will be able to:

  • Define acceleration.
  • Distinguish between positive acceleration and negative acceleration.
  • Use the acceleration formula to calculate:
  • Average acceleration
  • Final speed
  • Initial speed
  • Change in speed
  • Time taken
  • Describe acceleration due to gravity.

 
acceleration lesson contents

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Lesson Topics

1 | Acceleration

2 | Calculating Average Acceleration

3 | Positive and Negative Acceleration

4 | Calculating Final Speed

5 | Calculating Initial Speed

6 | Calculating Change in Speed

7 | Calculating Time Taken

8 | Acceleration Due to Gravity

9 | Summary

Lesson Summary

  • Acceleration is a measure of the rate of change of velocity.
  • Average acceleration can be calculated using the following formula:
    calculating average acceleration formula 1 summary
  • The formula for average acceleration can be simplified as:
    calculating average acceleration formula 2 summary
  • An increase in speed will have a positive value for acceleration.
  • A decrease in speed, also known as deceleration, will have a negative value for acceleration.
  • Final speed can be calculated using the formula:
    calculating final speed formula summary
  • Initial speed can be calculated using the formula:
    calculating initial speed formula summary
  • Change in speed can be calculated using the formula:
    calculating change in speed formula summary
  • Time taken can be calculated using the formula:
    calculating time taken acceleration formula summary
  • Acceleration due to gravity, in the absence of air resistance, occurs at 9.8 m/s2.

 
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