Whats the Difference Velocity and Acceleration

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Whats the Difference?Velocity and Acceleration

• Wendi Allan

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Velocity and Acceleration Whats the Difference?

• Velocity is the Speed and Direction of an object
  while
• Acceleration is the rate of change in velocity.
• We will be using our unicyclist, Wendi, as
  our friendly assistant to demonstrate the
  difference.

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Velocity

• In order to know Wendi the unicyclists velocity,
  you must know the her speed and what direction
  the she is traveling.
• RememberVelocity is the rate an object changes
  its position. Imagine Wendi is pedaling back and
  forth - always returning to the original starting
  position. Unicyclist Wendi would also have Zero
  Velocity.
• However, if she pedals forward continuously and
  changes direction, she has Velocity! Get it?
  Groovy!

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Velocity Math

• Remember Velocity is speed and direction
• ProblemOur unicyclist is traveling North at a
  rate of 5 km/s. What is her velocity?
• Answer5 km/s, NorthThats pretty easyNow
  lets cover Acceleration so you can viva la
  difference!

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Acceleration

• Acceleration is the rate of change in
  velocity.In other wordsAn object is
  accelerating if it is changing its velocity.
• Lets use average acceleration and our friendly
  unicyclist, Wendi, to help clarify this concept.

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Acceleration

• To calculate Wendis acceleration, we will divide
  her change in velocity by the time it takes her
  velocity to change.
• Ave. Acceleration final velocity - original
  velocity
  time
• In addition, Acceleration is the change in how
  fast an object is moving. If an object is not
  changing its velocity, then the object is not
  accelerating. So if unicyclist Wendi is riding
  at 6 km/s north at a constant rate, then she is
  not accelerating.
• Lets do a little math

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Acceleration and Math

• ProblemUnicyclist Wendis original velocity is 0
  m/s and her final velocity is 10 m/s going South.
  Her ride takes 360 seconds to complete. What is
  our Wendi the unicyclists acceleration?
• Answer10 m/s She accelerates at .027
  m/s/s
• 360 sec
• In conclusion, Unicyclist Wendis Velocity is 10
  m/s South while her Acceleration is .027 m/s/s