Average Velocity from V-T Graph w/ Non-Constant Accel.

In summary, average velocity is a measure of how fast an object is moving over a certain period of time. It is represented by the slope of a line on a V-T graph and can still be calculated from a graph with non-constant acceleration. Non-constant acceleration can affect average velocity as it may cause it to differ from instantaneous velocity. The main difference between average velocity and instantaneous velocity is that average velocity takes into account the entire motion, while instantaneous velocity only represents the velocity at a particular instant.
  • #1
assuredlonewo
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How does one get the average velocity from a velocity vs. time graph, when acceleration is not constant.
 
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  • #2


If you have a velocity -time graph the area under it is the distance traveled between t1 and t2

The average velocity is
[tex]{\rm{average velocity = }}\frac{{{\rm{total distance}}}}{{{\rm{total time}}}}{\rm{ = }}\frac{{{\rm{Area under graph between }}{{\rm{t}}_{\rm{1}}}{\rm{and }}{{\rm{t}}_{\rm{2}}}}}{{{{\rm{t}}_{\rm{2}}}{\rm{ - }}{{\rm{t}}_{\rm{1}}}}}[/tex]
 

1. What is average velocity?

Average velocity is a measure of how fast an object is moving over a certain period of time. It is calculated by dividing the total displacement (change in position) by the total time taken.

2. How is average velocity represented on a V-T graph?

Average velocity is represented by the slope of a line on a V-T graph. The steeper the slope, the greater the average velocity.

3. Can average velocity be calculated from a V-T graph with non-constant acceleration?

Yes, average velocity can still be calculated from a V-T graph with non-constant acceleration. It is calculated by finding the slope of a line that connects the initial and final points on the graph.

4. How does non-constant acceleration affect average velocity?

Non-constant acceleration can cause the average velocity to differ from the instantaneous velocity at any given point. This is because the object may be accelerating at different rates throughout the motion, resulting in a changing average velocity.

5. What is the difference between average velocity and instantaneous velocity?

Average velocity is a measure of the overall change in position over a certain period of time, while instantaneous velocity is the speed and direction of an object at a specific moment in time. Average velocity takes into account the entire motion, while instantaneous velocity only represents the velocity at a particular instant.

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