Motion of a Body: Can Acceleration Cause Motion?

  • Context: High School 
  • Thread starter Thread starter Amrutha.phy
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Body Motion
Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the question of whether a body with no initial velocity can begin to move solely due to acceleration. It explores concepts related to linear and angular motion, as well as the definitions and implications of acceleration.

Discussion Character

  • Conceptual clarification
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants assert that a body with zero initial velocity can begin to move if it experiences acceleration, citing examples such as dropping a ball.
  • Others clarify that "acceleration" refers to a change in velocity, suggesting that once acceleration is applied, the body will have a non-zero velocity immediately.
  • A participant introduces the concept of angular acceleration, noting that a motionless body can spin without translating when subjected to angular acceleration in a zero-gravity environment, and mentions that angular acceleration requires a pair of forces.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the relationship between acceleration and initial velocity, with no consensus reached on the implications of acceleration alone in causing motion.

Contextual Notes

There are unresolved aspects regarding the definitions of acceleration and motion, as well as the conditions under which angular acceleration applies.

Amrutha.phy
Messages
21
Reaction score
0
Can a body which has no initial velocity move just with acceleration?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Amrutha.phy said:
Can a body which has no initial velocity move just with acceleration?
Not sure what you mean. Once it starts moving it will have both acceleration and velocity.

You can certainly have a body with zero initial velocity begin moving under an acceleration. Drop a ball.
 
Amrutha.phy said:
Can a body which has no initial velocity move just with acceleration?
"Acceleration" means "change in velocity. As long as it has acceleration, even if it has no initial velocity it will immediately have non-zero velocity.
 
A motionless freely-floating body can also spin without moving when given only angular acceleration (in zero gravity). See

[added] Angular acceleration requires a pair of forces (a couple).
 
Last edited by a moderator:

Similar threads

High School Normal force in case of inclined plane and banked turn
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
High School Static friction needed for rolling without slipping
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
2K
High School How does mechanical motion start at the deepest, smallest level?
  • · Replies 36 ·
2
Replies
36
Views
5K
High School Is simple harmonic motion also a pure translatory motion?
  • · Replies 21 ·
Replies
21
Views
3K
High School The Effect of Linear and Rotational Motion on Measured Weight
  • · Replies 10 ·
Replies
10
Views
1K
High School Does weight affect the acceleration of an object?
  • · Replies 9 ·
Replies
9
Views
2K
High School Understanding Average Velocity in Linear Motion with Constant Acceleration
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
High School Ignoring the motion of the Earth for energy vs. momentum conservation
  • · Replies 21 ·
Replies
21
Views
2K
High School Elevator Question -- What does a downward acceleration mean?
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
2K
Graduate Rigid body kinematic motion and rotation
  • · Replies 13 ·
Replies
13
Views
2K