Lesson 10 — 4.4 acceleration & speed time graphs

• Natuurkunde / Scheikunde
• Middelbare school
• havo, vwo
• Leerjaar 2

This lesson

• rearranging the formula for acceleration
• speed-time graphs
  
• 
  

Learning goals 4.4

• Calculate acceleration
  
• Define the unit for acceleration
  
• Rearrange the formula for acceleration
  
• Read a speed-time graph correctly
  
• Explain terminal velocity
  

Learning goals 4.4

• Calculate acceleration
  
• Define the unit for acceleration
  
• Rearrange the formula for acceleration
  
• Read a speed-time graph correctly
  
• Explain terminal velocity
  

Learning goals 4.4

• Calculate acceleration
  
• Define the unit for acceleration
  
• Rearrange the formula for acceleration
  
• Read a speed-time graph correctly
  
• Explain terminal velocity
  

Recap

• What is the formula for acceleration
  
• What is the unit of acceleration. Explain your answer
  

acceleration=​time​​finalspeed−startingspeed​​

a=​t​​v​f​​−v​i​​​​

acceleration=​time​​finalspeed−startingspeed​​

a=​t​​v​f​​−v​i​​​​

acceleration=​time​​finalspeed−startingspeed​​

• a: acceleration
  
• vf: final speed
  
• vi: initial speed
  
• t: time
  

Unit of Acceleration

• speed/time
  
• (m/s)/s
  

Unit of Acceleration

• speed/time
  
• (m/s)/s
  

m/s

2

Exercise

Mike goes for a run. At the start of his run he runs at a speed of 7 m/s. 25 seconds later he runs at a speed of 4 m/s. Calculate his acceleration.

Rearranging the formula for speed

a=​t​​v​f​​−v​i​​​​

3=​2​​6​​

• Elevators in in the Yokohama tower in Japan are among the fastest in the world. They accelerate upwards at a rate of 3.125 m/s2 for 4 seconds. Starting from rest, what is their final speed?

• A cyclists cycles at a speed of 5/ms. He accelerates at a rate of 1.26 m/s² for 6.3 seconds. Calculate his final speed.
  

Speed-time graphs

Speed-time graphs

Speed-time graphs

The area under the graph

Terminal velocity

Learning goals 4.4

• Calculate acceleration
  
• Define the unit for acceleration
  
• Rearrange the formula for acceleration
  
• Read a speed-time graph correctly
  
• Explain terminal velocity