Formula for Velocity & Acceleration - Katie

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    Formula Velocity
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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around the formulas for velocity and acceleration, exploring their definitions and distinctions in physics.

Discussion Character

  • Conceptual clarification, Mathematical reasoning

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants provide various formulas for velocity and acceleration, discussing their meanings and implications. Some clarify that velocity is a vector quantity, while others emphasize the difference between average and instantaneous values.

Discussion Status

Participants are actively engaging with the definitions and formulas, with some providing clarifications and others questioning the assumptions about the types of velocity and acceleration being discussed. There is no explicit consensus, but multiple interpretations are being explored.

Contextual Notes

There is a mention of the level of physics being studied, which may affect the requirements for including direction in velocity. Some participants also note the distinction between average and instantaneous values, suggesting a need for clarity on these terms.

Katie
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velocity formula...

could anyone tell me the formula for velocity?
and acceleration?

thanks,
Katie
 
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What do you mean??
If x(t) is a particle's position at time "t", then the velocity of the particle, v(t), is given by:
[tex]v(t)=\frac{dx}{dt}[/tex]
That is, the velocity of the object is the rate of change of the position.

Similarly, acceleration, a(t) is the rate of change of velocity, that is:
[tex]a(t)=\frac{dv}{dt}=\frac{d^{2}x}{dt^{2}}[/tex]
Was this what you were after?
 
Acceleration = (Initial Velocity x Final Velocity) divided by time, or
a = (vf-vi) divided by t

Velocity = d/t or distance divided time.

However since velocity is a vector quantity (meaning it has magnitude(size), and direction) the d/t doesn't provide you with direction. Depending on the level of physics your doing, you might not be required to have a direction with velocity.
 
Velocity is equal to displacement (a vector, as opposed to distance, a scalar) over time. Speed is equal to distance over time.
 
[tex]\Delta=[/tex]change in

Formula for Average Velocity and Acceleration

<Velocity> = [tex]\frac{\Delta distance}{\Delta time}[/tex]

<Acceleration> = [tex]{\frac {\Delta Velocity}{\Delta time}}[/tex]
 
Last edited:
Change "velocity" to "average-velocity". :wink:
Change "acceleration" to "average-acceleration". :wink: :wink:
 
true

I was assuming you weren't talking about instanious velocity or acceleration
 

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