What is Acceleration: Definition and 1000 Discussions
In mechanics, acceleration is the rate of change of the velocity of an object with respect to time.
Accelerations are vector quantities (in that they have magnitude and direction). The orientation of an object's acceleration is given by the orientation of the net force acting on that object. The magnitude of an object's acceleration, as described by Newton's Second Law, is the combined effect of two causes:
the net balance of all external forces acting onto that object — magnitude is directly proportional to this net resulting force;
that object's mass, depending on the materials out of which it is made — magnitude is inversely proportional to the object's mass.The SI unit for acceleration is metre per second squared (m⋅s−2,
m
s
2
{\displaystyle {\tfrac {\operatorname {m} }{\operatorname {s} ^{2}}}}
).
For example, when a vehicle starts from a standstill (zero velocity, in an inertial frame of reference) and travels in a straight line at increasing speeds, it is accelerating in the direction of travel. If the vehicle turns, an acceleration occurs toward the new direction and changes its motion vector. The acceleration of the vehicle in its current direction of motion is called a linear (or tangential during circular motions) acceleration, the reaction to which the passengers on board experience as a force pushing them back into their seats. When changing direction, the effecting acceleration is called radial (or orthogonal during circular motions) acceleration, the reaction to which the passengers experience as a centrifugal force. If the speed of the vehicle decreases, this is an acceleration in the opposite direction and mathematically a negative, sometimes called deceleration, and passengers experience the reaction to deceleration as an inertial force pushing them forward. Such negative accelerations are often achieved by retrorocket burning in spacecraft. Both acceleration and deceleration are treated the same, they are both changes in velocity. Each of these accelerations (tangential, radial, deceleration) is felt by passengers until their relative (differential) velocity are neutralized in reference to the vehicle.
Homework Statement
The 25-lb slender rod has a length of 6 ft. Using a collar of negligible mass, its end A is confined to move along the smooth circular bar of radius 32√ ft. End B rests on the floor, for which the coefficient of kinetic friction is μB = 0.24. The bar is released from rest...
Homework Statement
There are two cars traveling in a same direction. The Second car has a camera mounted on it and has ability to give relative X and Y (in meters) distance of first car with respect to it. Given the Speed of Second car , Calculate the Speed and Acceleration of first car. The...
Homework Statement
*Forgot to mention that this is a SHM question in the title
Which of the following statements about an object that which perform an Simple harmonic motion is true?
A) the acceleration is maximum when the velocity is maximum
B) the acceleration is maximum when the displacement...
Homework Statement
http://imgur.com/a/vA0H2
Homework Equations
$$F=ma$$
$$r \times F = I \alpha $$
The Attempt at a Solution
Denoting the forces at the back wheel with a 1 and front wheel with a 2 and calculating the torques around the CoM I have
$$F-f_1-f_2 = mA$$
$$N_1 + N_2 -mg = 0$$...
Homework Statement
In the following diagram a massless pulley is pulled by a constant force of magnitude P. There is no friction between the block and the floor. The acceleration produced in the block if mass m is? PIC ATTACHED
Homework Equations
Took a1/2=a2 where a1 is accn of block and a2...
Homework Statement
Three identical rectangular blocks are at rest on a level, frictionless surface. Forces of equal magnitude that act in the same direction are exerted on each of the three blocks. Each force is exerted at a different point on the block (indicated by the symbol "x"), as shown...
Homework Statement
A horizontal plank with a frictionless axis of rotation at its center has a large mass at one end and a small mass at the other end. It is held stationary and then released from rest. As the plank rotates (and before one end hits the ground), the magnitude of the angular...
So a light signal is sent off some space behind me. At the same time I start accelerating extremely quickly. Even though the light signal will always be faster than me it will never catch up with me.
I have difficulties to understand that something that is always faster than you can still never...
Homework Statement
A block of mass M = 10 kg is sitting on the table as shwoin Figure above. There is friction between the block and the table, the coefficient of friction is u = 0.1.
The block has initial velocity V, and a constant forceF is applied to the black as showing Figure above.
A)...
Today I've come across the statement that the coefficient of static friction of rubber tires on asphalt is bigger than that of tires on concrete. Does it mean that the maximal acceleration a car can attain on asphalt will be greater than that on concrete?
My assumptions: 1)The force of friction...
Homework Statement
A constant torque is applied to a pinion which has a moment of inertia of I_m. The pinion(A) drives two gears, one (B) which is connected to a mass which has a moment of inertia = I_m and the other(C) is connected to a mass which has a moment of inertia = 2I_m. The gear...
Hi All,
I've been asked to re-work the below as my original method was incorrect.
Below is my second attempt on the question, which I would appreciate some input from someone a more knowledgeable than myself.
Thanks,
1. Homework Statement
A racing car of mass 850 kg accelerates from 20...
Homework Statement
An automobile goes down a hill that has the parabolic cross section shown. (see image attached)
Assuming that the horizontal component of the velocity vector has a constant
magnitude v0, determine (a) the expression for the speed of the automobile in
terms of x; and (b) the...
Homework Statement
A missile is launched from the surface of a planet with the speed v0 at t=0.
According to the theory of universal gravitation, the speed v of the missile after launch
is given by
v2 = 2gr0(r0 / r -1) + v02
where g is the gravitational...
I understand that gravitational acceleration is independent of mass. However, I've seen a common mathematical description of this that I can't help but find circular. I suspect that there's an error in my thinking that I'm hoping someone can point out for me. It goes like this; ##F=mg## but we...
Hi, I've been asked to solve below as part of an assignment. Below is pretty much what I've submitted but it has been concluded to be incorrect. I am unsure as to why hence the question. Is it due to the fact that I have not taken the mass or forces into consideration?
I have only taken these...
Problem:
A pendulum that has a period of 3.00000s and that is located where the accleration due to gravity is 9.79 m/s^2 is moved to a location where the acceleration due to gravity is 9.82 m/s^2. What is its new period, in s?
Equations
Equation for Harmonic motion: x = A sin (2pi * f * t)...
Hi,
I've built a coilgun using a solenoid, but my projectile stops at the half of the road, but this way i can't measure neither the acceleration nor the speed. what could be wrong ? how to push it further ?
I also have a question about the efficient methods to measure the speed of the...
Homework Statement
Calculate the deceleration of a snowboarder going up a 5.0° slope, assuming the coefficient of friction for waxed wood on wet snow ( = 0.1).
Homework Equations
F = ma
W = mg
Fs = (Fn)
Fk = k (Fn)
The Attempt at a Solution
Answer key says it's 1.83 m/s2. I fiddled...
I've been thinking about centripetal force and its effects on motion in uniform circular motion. I've actually found it difficult to accept that velocity magnitude can ever be maintained constant. Here is why:
if this is our velocity vector, v, at the top of the circle: →
Then the centripetal...
Homework Statement
[/B]
A proton is accelerated from rest at the positive plate of two charged parallel plates with a potential difference of 2000 v. After leaving the plates through a small hole in the negative plate, it enters a uniform magnetic field of 0.50 T in a direction perpendicular to...
Hi,
How can I relate the beam energy of an electron beam produced by an electron gun to the accelerating potential? I realize that accelerating potential, initial energy (before acceleation), and losses by synchrotron radiation, etc, will play a part.
I searched online and can't find much.
Thanks
Homework Statement
Your airplane is caught in a brief, violent downdraft. To your amazement, pretzels rise vertically off your seatback tray, and you estimate their upward acceleration relative to the plane at ## 2 \hspace{0.1cm} m/s^2##. What's the plane's downward acceleration?
Homework...
Homework Statement
[/B]
Figure 5-55 gives, as a function of time t, the force component
Fx that acts on a 3.00 kg ice block that can move only along
the x axis. At t = 0, the block is moving in the positive direction of
the axis, with a speed of 3.0 m/s.What are its (a) speed and (b) direction...
Hi,
I'm currently developing an application. I'm practically done, but I have one big issue (for me). So I have 3-axis acceleration from my android device. Now I want to have the general acceleration at time t, because after that i want to calculate velocity.
So, what I know:
to get velocity...
Homework Statement
Starting from rest an airplane lifts off the ground after 40s and 1.8km. What is its speed at takeoff and its average acceleration during the takeoff run?
Homework Equations
V= distance/time
Acceleration= (Vf-Vi)/time
The Attempt at a Solution
The airplane travels 1.8km in...
I am aware that an observer in free fall in a gravitational well will measure the local speed of light as c, but what about someone outside the well.
Imagine this,
Me and my friend are near Earth, and he starts freefalling to the surface, while i stay in space. If he then fires a laser beam at...
Homework Statement
Calculate the acceleration associated with
the Earth’s rotation about its axis (assume an equatorial point).
Homework Equations
About center of mass motion
Γ=Iα
The Attempt at a Solution
Since the external forces acting on the Earth are gravitational forces and hence...
Homework Statement
Two vehicles, A and B, are approaching each other. Vehicle A has a constant velocity of ##v_A##. Vehicle B has a constant acceleration ##a## with an initial velocity of ##v_B##. The starting distance at ##t=0## between them is ##D##.
Is there a way to solve at what time...
I'm trying to calculate the displacement d of a plane as it accelerates towards lift-off velocity.
The acceleration is given by the function a = a0 - kv2 where a0 is the constant acceleration from the plane's engine and the term -kv2 is caused by air resistance.
I can't seem to find a way to...
Homework Statement
A cat rides a merry-go-round turning with uniform circular motion. At time t1 = 2.00 s, the cat’s velocity is V1 = (3.00 m/s)i + (4.00 m/s)j , measured on a horizontal xy coordinate system. At t2 = 5.00 s, the cat’s velocity is V2 = (3.00 m/s)i + (4.00 m/s)j.
What are (a) the...
How their can be instantaneous acceleration, its impossible to have change in velocity at a particular position(instant), we can have velcoity or speed at a particular point but how can we have change in velocity at a particular instant?
Hello everyone.
Below are two problems I have been thinking about lately.
Let’s consider two cases:
we have a spaceship surronded by an utter void - nothing outside which the spaceship’s pilot could refer to. The pilot (in his robotic body, allowing him to withstand enormous G-forces) turns on...
a train accelerates uniformly from rest to a speed v m/s with uniform acceleration a m/s^2 it then decelerates uniformly to rest with uniform retardation 3a m/s^2. the total distance traveled is s metres. if the average speed for the whole journey is square root (s/2) find the value of a. does...
Hi there guys,
I'm struggling! I've been looking at the International Earth Rotation Services (IERS) "standards" for motion of a satellite in GR. the expression is far from trivial and I'm battling to determine where to even start with this bad boy.
The expression is given by
\Delta...
Homework Statement
A uniform circular disc of mass 2m and radius R placed freely on a horizontal smooth surface as shown in the figure. A particle of mass m is connected to the circumference of the disc with a mass less string. Now an impulse J is applied on the particle in the directions...
I am not familiar with concepts of accelaration field, velocity field, pressure field. I have come up with them in the topic of fluid mechnanics called fluild kinematics. My mathematical background is poor. I would like to learn some information about this concepts. Surely they are mathematical...
Homework Statement
Given:
x=9sin2t +16cos2t+100
The problem asks me for the maximum acceleration and the maximum velocity.
Homework Equations
dx/dt=v
dv/dt=a
The Attempt at a Solution
The problem asks me for the maximum acceleration and the maximum velocity. To find the maximum velocity, i...
<Moved from a technical forum and therefore no template.>
A block is pushed up a 30 incline by an applied force as shown. If F = 50 N and m = 4.41 kg and the coefficient of kinetic friction is 0.4. What is the magnitude of the resulting acceleration on the block?
This is what I did but it's...
Is there a value for the acceleration of light? I tried to use a = v2-v02/2(x-x0) but then I just knew that light has no initial velocity so it can't be 0.
Homework Statement
A box is sliding with constant acceleration a to the right. Inside the box there is a quarter of a circle upon which a frictionless ring can slide. Find the angle theta in terms of the other given variables.
Picture in solution
Homework Equations
F=ma, etc. basic stuff...
Hi all,
Background:
I'm working on a project where I am dropping an arduino with an accelerometer from ~100 ft in the air to measure it's acceleration during free fall and at impact. I need to compare my collected data with predicted models.
I have the model for free fall (just 9.8m/s^2)...
hi every one.
ive been digging around on the idea of volt edge and have come across the idea that potential difference is the difference in electrical potential. this is the energy required to move a particle between two reference points without acceleration?
i apologies at my lack of knowledge...
Hi,
I'm just beginning to learn physics on my own. It seems that instantaneous velocity and acceleration are the same thing. Is it reasonable for me to be confused about the two? If acceleration = final velocity - initial velocity / change in time ... then how this any different from...
I am wondering, when solving rigid body exercises, how can I express the relationship between linear and angular acceleration for a general case? E.g. what would be the linear acceleration in function of the angular one of a 1m rod that is rotating through a fixed point 0.6 m away from its mass...
Homework Statement
"Represent (linear) acceleration of center of mass of link OA in terms of variables shown." OmegaOA is given to be some constant value, I have assigned it 'omegaOA'.
Homework Equations
Already derived equations to previous parts of the problem, fairly certain these are...
Homework Statement
This isn't actually a coursework problem, but I can't solve it and I'd definitely be interested in the answer!
The acceleration due to gravity at the surface of a uniform, spherical asteroid is ##g_0##. Half of the asteroid is destroyed in a collision, leaving only a...