PEAZIT Aha card
Go straight to resources ↓Acceleration: velocity change each second
Average acceleration is velocity change divided by elapsed time. Subtract initial velocity from final velocity first. For constant acceleration along a straight line this ratio is the same in every interval.
| Observation | What it means |
|---|---|
| 5 → 11 m/s in 3 s | a = 2 m/s² |
| 11 → 17 m/s in 3 s | a = 2 m/s² |
One worked example
- v₀ = 4, v = 10 m/s, t = 2 sThe initial velocity is not zero.
- Δv = 10 − 4 = 6 m/sFind the change.
- a = 6/2 = 3 m/s²Velocity increases by 3 m/s each second.
Watch out: Acceleration is a vector: turning can change velocity direction without changing speed. Here motion is along one line.
Goal, prerequisites and card origin
What you will learn: Use a = Δv/Δt.
What you need first: Velocity and time.
An original PEAZIT working card. Independent expert review and effectiveness testing have not yet taken place. · v1
Reference for the underlying principle ↗Show connections
Average acceleration is velocity change divided by elapsed time. Subtract initial velocity from final velocity first. For constant acceleration along a straight line this ratio is the same in every interval.