9.3 - linear acceleration

acceleration

• the change in velocity over time

• rate of change of velocity

• m/s/s

velocity

rate of change of position

two ways to measure acceleration

• using position data from both motion capture systems

  • two math steps

  • SI units: m/s/s

• direct measurement via. accelerometer

  • units in “g’s” (9.8 m/s/s)

what does an acceleration of 1.25 m/s/s mean

• every 1 second, the velocity increases by 1.25 m/s

• because a positive number means he’s increasing

what does negative acceleration mean

• slowing down in the positive direction OR

• speeding up in the negative direction

what does positive acceleration mean

• speeding up in the positive direction

• slowing down in the negative direction

the direction of motion does or does not indicate the direction of acceleration

does not - we need to know other info.