What Does Constant Acceleration Mean in Mechanics?

  • Thread starter Natasha1
  • Start date
  • Tags
    Mechanics
In summary, when the speed is constant, the acceleration is zero, but when the acceleration is constant, the speed can still change. This is because constant acceleration means the velocity changes at a constant rate, but the direction of the acceleration can be different from the velocity.
  • #1
Natasha1
493
9
Just wanted to clarify here:

Sometime in mechanics exercises it is mentioned that the speed should be considered as constant, which in return means that the acceleration a = 0 ms-2.

Now if it is mentioned that the acceleration should be considered as constant what does that mean? That the speed remains constant too?

Please explain simply thanks :-)
 
Physics news on Phys.org
  • #2
Natasha1 said:
Just wanted to clarify here:

Sometime in mechanics exercises it is mentioned that the speed should be considered as constant, which in return means that the acceleration a = 0 ms-2.

Now if it is mentioned that the acceleration should be considered as constant what does that mean? That the speed remains constant too?

Please explain simply thanks :-)
A falling apple undergoes a constant acceleration (i.e g), does that means the apple is falling at a constant speed?
I think you should go over your textbook again, for a constant acceleration, we have:
v = v0 + at, where:
v0 is the initial velocity, a is the acceleration, and t is the time spent.
:)
 
  • #3
Oops!
If the SPEED is constant, it means that the acceleration is orthogonal to the velocity at all times; you can perfectly well have non-zero acceleration in this case.
 

1. What is constant acceleration in mechanics?

Constant acceleration in mechanics refers to the situation where an object's velocity is changing at a constant rate. This means that the object is experiencing the same amount of change in velocity in each unit of time.

2. How is constant acceleration different from uniform motion?

Constant acceleration is different from uniform motion in that in uniform motion, the object's velocity remains constant, while in constant acceleration, the velocity is changing at a constant rate.

3. What is the equation for calculating constant acceleration?

The equation for calculating constant acceleration is a = (vf - vi) / t, where a is the acceleration, vf is the final velocity, vi is the initial velocity, and t is the time interval.

4. How does constant acceleration affect an object's motion?

Constant acceleration can cause an object's motion to change in a variety of ways depending on the direction and magnitude of the acceleration. For example, if the acceleration is in the same direction as the velocity, the object's speed will increase. If the acceleration is in the opposite direction of the velocity, the object's speed will decrease.

5. What are some real-life examples of constant acceleration?

Some real-life examples of constant acceleration include a car accelerating from a stop, a ball falling due to gravity, and a rocket launching into space. In each of these situations, the object's velocity is changing at a constant rate, resulting in constant acceleration.

Similar threads

  • Calculus and Beyond Homework Help
Replies
4
Views
1K
Replies
24
Views
1K
  • Calculus and Beyond Homework Help
Replies
8
Views
2K
  • Quantum Physics
Replies
4
Views
1K
Replies
5
Views
920
  • Special and General Relativity
Replies
5
Views
640
  • Calculus and Beyond Homework Help
Replies
1
Views
782
  • Special and General Relativity
2
Replies
55
Views
3K
Replies
6
Views
1K
  • Calculus and Beyond Homework Help
Replies
14
Views
4K
Back
Top