Acceleration & Velocity

• speed

  is how fast your going
• velocity

  is the speed of an object in a given direction
• distance travelled = speed x time
• typical everyday speeds

  • person - walking 1.5 m/s, running 3 m/s, cycling 6 m/s
  • vehicle - 25 m/s, train 30 m/s, plane 250 m/s
• acceleration

  is the change in velocity
• acceleration = change in velocity / time
• constant acceleration is also known as uniform acceleration
• (final velocity)^2 - (initial velocity)^2 = 2 x acceleration x distance
• terminal velocity

  is the speed at which an object falls when it is unsupported and is falling freely
• drag

  is the resistance you get in a fluid
• drag increases as speed increases
• acceleration is proportional to resultant force
• resultant force = acceleration x mass