- Year 10•
- AQA
Acceleration (a = Δv/t)
I can calculate the acceleration and deceleration of objects.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- Acceleration is equal to the amount that velocity changes in one second.
- Acceleration is the rate of change of velocity.
- Average acceleration = change of velocity / time (a = Δv/t)
- An object that is slowing down is decelerating.
- An object that is decelerating has a negative acceleration.
Keywords
Acceleration - The acceleration of an object is the rate of change of velocity. This is how much the velocity changes per second.
Deceleration - Deceleration is used to describe a change in velocity where the object slows down.
Velocity - The velocity of an object is the speed in a particular direction. This is the rate of change of displacement.
Delta v (Δv) - The change in velocity is represented by 𝚫v.
Rate of change - A rate of change is how much a quantity is changing by every second.
Common misconception
Pupils often think that if velocity or speed is increasing, then acceleration must also be increasing. Pupils often don't associate a change in direction at a constant speed with an acceleration.
Before teaching acceleration, consolidate an understanding of the differences between velocity and changes in velocity. Discuss how an object can be accelerating AND travelling at a constant speed (circular motion).
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Which international standard unit is used to measure speed and velocity in physics?
Give the symbols.
Q2.A roller-skater covers a distance of 520 m in 40 s.
Calculate his speed.
Q3.Which of these is a vector quantity?
Q4.A lorry is travelling along a straight road. Its speed increases from 5.6 m/s to 8.4 m/s.
What is the change in velocity for the lorry?
Q5.How far will a wind-up toy travel if it has a speed of 0.02 m/s and it moves for 1 minute?
Q6.How long will it take a rocket traveling at 5.0 km/s to travel a distance of 500 m?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Match the key words and phrases to their explanations.
velocity - how fast something is moving in a particular direction
rate of change - how much a quantity changes each second
acceleration - the rate of change of velocity
deceleration - a change in velocity where the object is slowing down
delta v (𝚫$$v$$) - a symbol used to represent change in velocity
Q2.Match the quantities to the unit definitions.
velocity - a vector measured in m/s
distance - a scalar measured in m
acceleration - a vector measured in m/s$$^2$$
speed - a scalar measured in m/s
displacement - a vector measured in m
Q3.Which of these equations correctly give acceleration ($$a$$)?
Q4.A car takes 17.6 s to accelerate from 0 m/s to 44 m/s.
Calculate the acceleration of the car in m/s$$^2$$.
You do not need to enter the unit.
Q5.A motorcycle reduces its velocity from 25 m/s to 14 m/s in 5.5 s.
What is the size of the deceleration?
Q6.An arrow is travelling at 20 m/s. It hits a target and slows to 2.0 m/s in a time of 0.2 s.
Calculate the acceleration during the impact with the target.
You do not need to enter the unit.
