What determines the maximum acceleration of a ball in empty space?

[Naveen3456]

A ball is pushed in empty space away from gravitation/curvature.

It attains a speed of 1m/s, then 2m/s, then 3m/s, then 4m/s, then 5m/s and then it continues to move at a constant velocity of 5.1m/s till infinity.

My question is what things decide that the acceleration would stop at 5.1m/s?

a) force given to ball
b) shape of the ball
c) mass of the ball
d) something else also

 

[HallsofIvy]

You should know that "force equals mass times acceleration". That's all you need.

 

[Naveen3456]

You should know that "force equals mass times acceleration". That's all you need.

why should acceleration stop at all and uniform motion continue after that?

How does 'acceleration' know when to stop?

 

[ViolentCorpse]

How does 'acceleration' know when to stop?

When there is no net force acting on the object.

 

[Bandarigoda]

F=ma when there are a force there is an acceleration. When there's no force, object will move in a constant velocity

 

[PhanthomJay]

How does 'acceleration' know when to stop?

In your example, when you let go and stop pushing it.

 

[Naty1]

How does 'acceleration' know when to stop?

Very similar to taking your foot off the accelerator in a car...stop applying power, that is, stop apply a net net force, and the acceleration ceases.

A slightly different perspective applies to uniform circular motion: An object moving in a circular motion...say a ball being swung on a string... is accelerating due to the change of direction of motion. Remove the force by letting go of the string...'acceleration' ceases as the force from the string is removed.

 

[Naveen3456]

Very similar to taking your foot off the accelerator in a car...stop applying power, that is, stop apply a net net force, and the acceleration ceases.

A slightly different perspective applies to uniform circular motion: An object moving in a circular motion...say a ball being swung on a string... is accelerating due to the change of direction of motion. Remove the force by letting go of the string...'acceleration' ceases as the force from the string is removed.

But, here the acceleration seems to increase once the ball leaves my hand. Once I throw the ball, it attains a speed of 1m/s, then 2m/s and finally attains a constant speed/velocity of 5.1m/s. Is it because there are no frictional forces in space?

 

[CWatters]

Once I throw the ball, it attains a speed of 1m/s, then 2m/s and finally attains a constant speed/velocity of 5.1m/s.

I doubt it. Please provide more details of that experiment and how the velocity was measured.

Normally the only way a ball can accelerate (eg get faster) after it's left your hand is if something else acts on it (eg gravity or an elastic band or ??)

 

[Bandarigoda]

Acceleration has stopped at 5.1ms-1

 

[anuraj.b]

The acceleration of the ball due to initially applied force.(F=ma). when this force completely converted into acceleration at 5.1m/s . after F=0 and a=0. so velocity is constant due to zero acceleration.

 

[CWatters]

I think we can forget about this question. The OP hasn't been back to provide the information requested.

The OP appears to be saying the ball is "in empty space away from gravitation" yet "acceleration seems to increase once the ball leaves my hand".

There is either an error with the speed data or another force (not gravity) must be accelerating the ball after it leaves the hand.

 

[davenn]

There is either an error with the speed data or another force (not gravity) must be accelerating the ball after it leaves the hand.

or he just doesn't understand the rules/formula as explained to him in the earlier posts

Dave