Acceleration refers to the rate at which an object changes its velocity over a period of time. Otherwise explained, it is merely a basic definition that anything that is speeding up, slowing down, or changing its direction is accelerating. Acceleration represents a change of the velocity of an object in a unit of time.
Acceleration is the rate of change in velocity to the change in time. It is represented by the symbol a and is pronounced as-
a=change in velocity time taken
The S.I. unit for acceleration is a meter per second square or m/s2.
If t (time taken), v (final velocity) and u (initial velocity) are given. Then the acceleration is given by the formula
v=u+at
Where,
Final Velocity is v
Initial velocity is u
Acceleration is a
Time taken is t
Distance travelled is s
Below we have provided some sample numerical based on acceleration which may help you to give an idea of how the formula is used:
Problem 1: A toy car accelerates distance from 3 m/s to 5 m/s in 5 s. What is its acceleration?
Solution:
Given: Initial Velocity u = 3 m/s,
The final velocity, v = 5m/s,
Time taken, t = 5.
The Acceleration is given by, a=v-ut
=5-35
=25
= 4.0 m/s2
Therefore acceleration of a toy car is 4.0 m/s2.
Problem 2: A stone is thrown into the river from a bridge. It takes 4s for the stone to touch the water surface. Find the height of the bridge from the water level.
Answer:
Given: u = 0, since the stone was at rest
t = 4s
a = g = 9.8 m/s2, since a is Acceleration due to gravity
distance travelled by stone = Height of bridge = s
The distance travelled is given by
s = 0 + 1/2 × 9.8 × 4 = 19.6 m/s2
Thus, s = 19.6 m/s2
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