1.5 Acceleration
Acceleration is the change in velocity, i.e. acceleration = change in velocity / time
Sometimes we write “change in” as the Greek letter “delta”
Note that “change in velocity” means both change in magnitude as well as direction. This is why circular motion is considered continual acceleration, because even though speed may be constant, we’re going round and round in circles, so there’s a constant change in direction!
“So Miley, if you put your head out of the window going at 50kmph, will your hair blow back?”
“Well yeah, of course, that’s the speed cars travel on roads in suburbia,” Miley responded.
“Okay, what about if we went at 50kmph^2?”
“Hmm… acceleration is a bit harder,” Miley comments.
“That’s why it’s easier to think of acceleration is change of velocity, per time unit.”
“Oh I see,” Miley comments, “so 50kmph^2 is gaining from 0kmph to 50kmph – every hour, which is INCREDIBLY slow!!!”
“That’s right,” Jeremy replied.
http://www.glenbrook.k12.il.us/gbssci/phys/mmedia/kinema/acceln.html
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