- #1
Initial Velocity and Acceleration: A Curious Conundrum
- Thread starter Miike012
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- Velocity
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Homework Help Overview
The discussion revolves around the concepts of initial velocity and acceleration, particularly questioning how an object can have an initial acceleration while starting from rest. Participants explore the relationship between velocity and acceleration in various contexts.
Discussion Character
- Conceptual clarification, Assumption checking
Approaches and Questions Raised
- Participants examine the definition of initial velocity and acceleration, with some questioning the implications of having non-zero acceleration at the start. Others provide examples, such as dropping a ball, to illustrate their points.
Discussion Status
The discussion is ongoing, with participants sharing different perspectives and examples to clarify their understanding. Some have expressed confusion about the relationship between initial acceleration and velocity, while others have attempted to provide insights into the concepts involved.
Contextual Notes
There is a focus on specific scenarios, such as free-falling objects and vehicles accelerating from rest, which may influence the interpretations of initial conditions. Participants are also grappling with the implications of their assumptions regarding motion and acceleration.
- #2
Gordanier
- 10
- 0
Nope.
Lets say you drop a ball from your hand. The acceleration is 9.8m/s^s downward, but when the ball is in your hand it is not moving. (unless of course you are swinging your arm).
So at initial, the very beginning, there is no velocity. Velocity changes due to acceleration.
Lets say you drop a ball from your hand. The acceleration is 9.8m/s^s downward, but when the ball is in your hand it is not moving. (unless of course you are swinging your arm).
So at initial, the very beginning, there is no velocity. Velocity changes due to acceleration.
- #3
Miike012
- 1,009
- 0
I thought this was only true for "free falling" objects...
For example... I posted some graphs...
graph 1 is velocity increasing... then graph 2 is acceleration based off graph 1...
However if velocity had a constant slope say y = 3.. then acc would be zero...
My thoughts where... if initial acceleration is not zero in word problem then initial velocity must not be zero... which i showed in my two graphs...
Obviously I am wrong.. I just need to wrap my mind around it ..
For example... I posted some graphs...
graph 1 is velocity increasing... then graph 2 is acceleration based off graph 1...
However if velocity had a constant slope say y = 3.. then acc would be zero...
My thoughts where... if initial acceleration is not zero in word problem then initial velocity must not be zero... which i showed in my two graphs...
Obviously I am wrong.. I just need to wrap my mind around it ..
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- #4
SteamKing
Staff Emeritus
Science Advisor
Homework Helper
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Acceleration is a change in velocity during some time interval. In order for any object to begin moving from rest, whatever the direction of travel, the object must undergo acceleration.
When you are in a car stopped at a traffic light, and the car takes off after the light changes, the force you feel pushing you into the seat back is due to the car accelerating away from the traffic light.
When you are in a car stopped at a traffic light, and the car takes off after the light changes, the force you feel pushing you into the seat back is due to the car accelerating away from the traffic light.
- #5
Miike012
- 1,009
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Thank you..
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