2.2 Acceleration

- Acceleration is the change in velocity (speed or direction) during a period of time.

average acceleration =

change in velocity change in time

=

vf - vi tf - ti

- If the velocity of an object is decreassing or the object has changed direction than the acceleration can become negative.

- If v_i > v_f then aa is negative.

- A velocity-time graph illustrates the rrelationship between velocity as a dependent variable and time as an independent variable.

- Using more than one point on a velocityy-time graph to determine a change in velocity over a specific time interval will produce an object's average acceleration.

- A constant acceleration produces a straaight line or linear slope (rise/run).

- The slope of a non-linear velocity-timee graph (rise/run) will predict an objects instantaneous acceleration.

a = v/t

- A final velocity can be calculated duriing a time period with a constant acceleration using the equation:

v_f = v_i + at

- The displacement that occurs during a cchange in velocity in a specific time period can be determined using the equation:

x = 1/2(v_i + v_f)t

- The displacement that occurs during a sspecific time period under constant acceleration can be determined using the equation:

x = v_it + 1/2at²

- A final velocity can be calculated whenn a displacement occurs with a constant acceleration using the equation:

v_f² = v_i² + 2ax