Acceleration & Free Fall

Flashcards for Acceleration and Free Fall Practice Problems

Largest Acceleration

A large change in velocity over a short time interval

Position vs. Time Graph - Increasing Velocity

The object increases its velocity

Velocity of an object

is the rate at which an object's position changes over time, including both speed and direction. It is a vector quantity that can be affected by acceleration.

Direction of Acceleration for Increasing Velocity

is in the same direction as the velocity vector. This means that when an object's speed increases, the acceleration acts in the direction of motion, resulting in a net gain in speed.

Object Acceleration Scenario

An object is traveling at a constant velocity of 15 m/s when it experiences a constant acceleration of 3.5 m/s2 for a time of 11 s.

Object Velocity Change

An object is moving at a velocity of 23 m/s. It accelerates to a velocity of 85 m/s over a time of 8.3 s.

Object at Rest Acceleration

An object initially at rest experiences an acceleration of 9.8 m/s2.

Skid Marks Accident

A police officer notices that the skid marks of a car are 10m long. The officer knows that the typical deceleration of a car when skidding is 45 m/s2

Stopping Distance Calculation

Driving through town at 12 m/s when suddenly a BABY rolls out in front of you. You apply the brakes and begin decelerating at 3.5 m/s2.

Bicycle Sandy Patch

Coasting due west on your bicycle at 8 m/s, you encounter a sandy patch of road 7.2m across. When you leave the sandy patch your speed has been reduced to 6.5 m/s.

Catching the Golden Chicken

A bicyclist is finishing his repair of a flat tire when a GOLDEN CHICKEN runs by with a constant velocity of 3.5 m/s. Two seconds later, the bicyclist hops on his bike and accelerates at 2.4 m/s2 until he catches the GOLDEN CHICKEN

Ball Thrown Upwards

A ball is thrown straight up with a velocity of 16 m/s.

Stone Thrown Off Bridge

A stone is thrown down off a bridge with a velocity of 5.6 m/s.

Object Fall Distance

When dropped from rest, any object will fall a total distance of 19.6 m in the first 2 seconds of its fall.

Stone Thrown River

A bridge is constructed above a river such that an object dropped from it will reach the river after 4.5 seconds. A precocious youth takes a small stone and throws it downwards with some negative initial velocity so that it hits the river after only 3 seconds.