Science 10

Calculating Acceleration

We can also determine acceleration without drawing a velocity-time graph. We use the following formula:

1. A car has a change in velocity of 15 m/s [E] in 5.0 s. What is the cars acceleration?

2. A skier moving forward begins to slow down, accelerating at -2.0 m/s2 for 1.5 s. What is the skiers change in velocity over the 1.5 s?

3. A motorcycle is travelling north. How much time would it take for the motorcycle to increase its velocity to by 15.0 m/s [N] if it accelerated at 3.0 m/s2?

TWO STEP QUESTIONS Remember we can also use the following formula to determine the v:

PRACTICE TWO STEP QUESTIONS Suppose Harry Potters owl, Hedwig, was delivering a letter to Hogwarts flying 5.0 m/s [East] and then slowed down to 1.0 m/s [East] as he approached the school. Assuming Hedwig was flying for a total of 80 seconds and the acceleration was constant, what is the balls acceleration?
A.

Hint: first find the change in velocity then use that to solve for acceleration!

The acceleration is ___________________________________________.

B. Suppose the bullet train in Japan accelerates from rest at 2.0 m/s2 forward for 37 s.

What is the velocity of the bullet train at the end of the 37 s?

C. Suppose a car is travelling north at 22 m/s. How long would it take to slow the car

to 12 m/s north if it accelerates at 2.5 m/s2 south? [Remember that the north direction is positive (+)]

(be sure to show ALL your work!)

1. A sprinter speeds up as she nears the finish line with an acceleration of +2 m/s2. If

she speeds up at this constant rate for 30 seconds, what will be her change in velocity?

2. A dancer needs to speed up as she moves forward across the stage with a change in

velocity of 3 m/s. How long will it take her to change her speed if she accelerates at . 03 m/s2?

3. What is the acceleration of a baseball that is accelerated uniformly from rest to 65 m/s forward in 0.0065 s?

4. A truck travelling north at 12 m/s stops uniformly in 3.0 s. What is the cars acceleration?

5. A car starting from rest accelerates uniformly to 13 m/s [N] in 7.0 s. What is the cars acceleration?

6. A car travelling south at 14 m/s stops uniformly in 6.0 s. What is the cars acceleration?

7. A bicycle is travelling east at 14 m/s. How much time would it take for the bicycle to

increase its velocity to 22 m/s [E] if it accelerated at 4.0 m/s2? Note: this one (& the rest on this page) are two step questions!

8. A skateboarder moving 7.0 m/s forward begins to slow down, accelerating at -3.0

m/s2 for 3.5 s. What is the skateboarders velocity at the end of 3.5 s?

9. A ball changes its velocity from 20 m/s [W] to 32 m/s [E] in 1.2 s. What is the balls

average acceleration?

10. A skier moving 12.0 m/s forward begins to slow down, accelerating at -4.0 m/s2 for

6.5s. What is the skiers velocity at the end of 6.5 s?