Grade 11 → Mechanics → dynamics ↓
Acceleration and deceleration
Dynamics is a branch of mechanics that deals with the motion of objects without considering the forces that cause the motion. Two fundamental aspects of motion are acceleration and deceleration, which describe how the velocity of an object changes with time.
Understanding acceleration
Acceleration is defined as the rate of change of an object's velocity. It is a vector quantity, which means it has both magnitude and direction. When something gets faster, we say it is accelerating.
Acceleration formula
Acceleration can be calculated using the following formula:
acceleration = (final velocity - initial velocity) / time
Where:
final velocity
is the velocity of the object at the end of the time periodinitial velocity
is the velocity of the object at the beginning of the time periodtime
is the period during which the change occurs
Visual example of acceleration
Consider a car that starts from stationary and increases its speed while traveling on a straight road. For the sake of clarity I will present this example using code rather than an image.
|Time (s)| Velocity (m/s) | Acceleration (m/s²)|
-----------------------------------------------
| 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1 | 5 | 5 |
| 2 | 10 | 5 |
| 3 | 15 | 5 |
As time passes, the velocity of the car increases by 5 m/s every second, resulting in a constant acceleration of 5 m/s².
Example problem
Imagine that a sports car accelerates from stationary to 60 m/s in 10 seconds. What is the acceleration of the car?
Using the acceleration formula:
acceleration = (60 m/s - 0 m/s) / 10 s = 6 m/s²
So, the acceleration of the car is 6 m/s².
Understanding recessions
Deceleration is the rate at which an object slows down. It is essentially negative acceleration. When an object is slowing down, its velocity decreases over time.
Bearish formula
This formula is similar to the acceleration formula, but the change in velocity will be a negative number because the object is slowing down:
deceleration = (final velocity - initial velocity) / time
Visual example of a recession
Let's imagine that the bicycle stops after applying the brake. Again, let's illustrate this example in the form of a table:
|Time (s)| Velocity (m/s) | Deceleration (m/s²)|
-----------------------------------------------
| 0 | 20 | -4 |
| 1 | 16 | -4 |
| 2 | 12 | -4 |
| 3 | 8 | -4 |
| 4 | 4 | -4 |
| 5 | 0 | -4 |
The bicycle is slowing down at 4 m/s every second, so its constant deceleration rate is -4 m/s².
Example problem
A train moves at a speed of 30 m/s and stops in 15 seconds. Calculate the speed of the train.
Using the dilution formula:
deceleration = (0 m/s - 30 m/s) / 15 s = -2 m/s²
The deceleration speed of the train is -2 m/s².
Real-life applications
Acceleration and deceleration can be seen in many real-life situations, including:
- Vehicles: Cars, buses, trains and planes all accelerate and decelerate constantly.
- Game: Players increase speed when they start the race and decrease speed when they stop.
- Amusement rides: Roller coasters continually increase and decrease speed throughout the ride.
Key points to remember
- Both acceleration and deceleration are vector quantities, that is, they have direction and magnitude.
- Acceleration results in an increase in velocity, while deceleration results in a decrease in velocity.
- The formulas for both are similar, yet the direction of the velocity change determines whether an object is accelerating or decelerating.
Advanced ideas
Although this text provides a basic understanding, higher level physics can explore the following:
- Non-uniform acceleration: When the acceleration is not constant, calculus techniques can be used to describe the changing state.
- Vector representation: In more advanced physics, acceleration is broken down into components using vector mathematics.
- Relativity of Acceleration: The effects of acceleration on objects at high speeds can be explored from the point of view of relativity.
Conclusion
Acceleration and deceleration are fundamental concepts in physics that describe how the velocity of an object changes over time. Understanding these principles is important for analyzing motion in everyday life, whether you're looking at a speeding car, a child on a swing, or a satellite orbiting the Earth.
This broad introduction gives you the tools you need to think about how motion occurs, and lays the groundwork for more complex studies in physics.