Velocity time graph &instantaneous acceleration

AI Thread Summary
Instantaneous acceleration can be determined from a velocity-time graph by calculating the gradient of the line. If the graph is a straight line, the acceleration is constant and can be found using the formula a = (velocity2 - velocity1) / (time2 - time1). A slope of zero indicates that the object is traveling at a constant velocity without acceleration. The relationship between acceleration and the slope of the graph is fundamental, as acceleration represents the change in velocity over time. Understanding these concepts is crucial for analyzing motion in physics.
karaonstage
Messages
1
Reaction score
0
How can you find the instantaneous accelertation of an object whose curve on the velocity-time graph is a straight line?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
a=dv/dt.

Acceleration is the gradient of the velocity-time curve at any point.
 
acceleration = (velocity 2 - velocity 1)/ (time 2 -time1)
 
karaonstage said:
How can you find the instantaneous accelertation of an object whose curve on the velocity-time graph is a straight line?

Only just a straight line? Then
\forall n > 1,\;\frac{{d^n v}}{{dt^n }} = 0
over the interval containing this line

*karaonstage, simply find the slope of this line, and you will thus calculate the acceleration of the object.
If the slope = 0, the object simply doesn't accelerate (travels at constant velocity).
 
Above is correct. But next time, try to think to yourself, what is acceleration. Change in velocity over time, well, if you have a velocity vs time graph, than a change in velocity over time IS your slope.
 

Thread 'Struggling to understand the concept of this question (ice cube in water optics question)'

TL;DR Summary: I came across this question from a Sri Lankan A-level textbook. Question - An ice cube with a length of 10 cm is immersed in water at 0 °C. An observer observes the ice cube from the water, and it seems to be 7.75 cm long. If the refractive index of water is 4/3, find the height of the ice cube immersed in the water. I could not understand how the apparent height of the ice cube in the water depends on the height of the ice cube immersed in the water. Does anyone have an...
View full post »
Thread 'Variable mass system : water sprayed into a moving container'

Thread 'Variable mass system : water sprayed into a moving container'

Starting with the mass considerations #m(t)# is mass of water #M_{c}# mass of container and #M(t)# mass of total system $$M(t) = M_{C} + m(t)$$ $$\Rightarrow \frac{dM(t)}{dt} = \frac{dm(t)}{dt}$$ $$P_i = Mv + u \, dm$$ $$P_f = (M + dm)(v + dv)$$ $$\Delta P = M \, dv + (v - u) \, dm$$ $$F = \frac{dP}{dt} = M \frac{dv}{dt} + (v - u) \frac{dm}{dt}$$ $$F = u \frac{dm}{dt} = \rho A u^2$$ from conservation of momentum , the cannon recoils with the same force which it applies. $$\quad \frac{dm}{dt}...
View full post »

Similar threads

Why would this be accelerating positively?
Replies
6
Views
965
Instantaneous Acceleration Given Equation for Velocity
Replies
7
Views
1K
Understanding Distance and Displacement on Velocity-Time Graphs
Replies
25
Views
2K
Use the data to construct a graph etc.
Replies
23
Views
5K
Inconsistency in a Velocity-Time Graph
Replies
13
Views
3K
Finding the change in velocity from an acceleration vs time graph
Replies
1
Views
3K
Calculate Distance Traveled: Instantaneous vs. Average Velocity
Replies
5
Views
2K
Experimentally calculating the acceleration due to gravity
Replies
13
Views
3K
Difficulty Understanding 'Drag Crisis' (transitionary period from laminar to turbulent flow)
Replies
1
Views
958
Finding acceleration from Velocity vs Position graph
Replies
2
Views
4K

Hot Threads

Recent Insights

Back
Top