Average Acceleration Formulas - Definition & Examples
Acceleration for an object is defined as the rate of change of velocity.
Average acceleration for an interval is defined as the change in velocity for that interval per time
Understanding acceleration is important in our everyday lives, as well as in the wide expanses of space and the microscopic world of subatomic physics. Applying the brake pedal causes a vehicle to slow down; in ordinary conversation, to accelerate indicates to hurry up. For example, we are all too familiar with our car's acceleration. The velocity change over time is proportional to the acceleration.
Acceleration is a term you've probably heard before, especially in relation to automobiles. As a result, acceleration is defined as the rate at which velocity changes over time. We use the term acceleration to express a situation of increased speed in layman's terms. Acceleration is divided into two types: average and instantaneous, similar to velocity. Over a long period, the average acceleration is calculated. We use the term length in the sense of something finite, i.e. something that has a beginning and an end. As a result, the focus of this paper will be on the average acceleration formula.
Average Acceleration - Definition
The change in velocity divided by the elapsed time is the average acceleration. For example, if a marble's velocity increases from 0 to 60 cm/s in three seconds, its average acceleration is 20 cm/s. This indicates that every second, the marble's velocity will rise by 20 cm/s.
Acceleration for an object is defined as the rate of change of velocity.
Average acceleration for an interval is defined as the change in velocity for that interval per time
So, mathematically,
acceleration(a) = \[\frac{\triangle v}{\triangle t}\]
If vi is the initial velocity and vf is the final velocity, and t is the time taken for the velocity to change from vi to vf, then \[a=\frac{v_{f}-v_{t}}{t}\]
Similarly, when the object executes various velocities, such as v1, v2, v3…vn for varying time intervals such as t1, t2, t3…tn respectively, the average acceleration formula is written as:
= \[a_{avg}=\frac{v_{1}+v_{2}+.....+v_{n}}{t_{1}+t_{2}+.....+t_{n}}\]
SI unit of average acceleration is . m/s2.
Examples:
1. If an object accelerates from 20 m/s to 80 m/s in 3 seconds, Find the average acceleration for the object.
Sol:
Given,
The initial velocity of the object=vi=20 m/s
The final velocity of the object=vf=80 m/s
The time taken by the object=t= 3 seconds
Now, we are asked to calculate the average acceleration of the object. We know that the average velocity of the object can be calculated using the following equation:
\[a_{avg}=\frac{v_{f}-v_{i}}{t}\] …..(1)
Where,
vi = The initial velocity of the object
vf = The final velocity of the object
t-The time taken by the object
Substituting all the known values in the above equation we get:
= \[a_{avg}=\frac{v_{f}-v_{i}}{t}=\frac{80-20}{3}\]
= \[a_{avg}=\frac{40}{3}= 13.33m/s^{2}\approx 13 m/s^{2}\]
Therefore, the average velocity of the object is13 m/s2.
2. A bus accelerates for 5 seconds at 10 mph, then 20 mph for 4 seconds, then 15 mph for 8 seconds. What can we say about the bus's average acceleration?
Sol:
It is assumed that the bus's velocities at certain time intervals are, v1 = 10 m/s, v2 = 20m/s, v3 = 15m/s
The Time intervals for which the item has these velocities are, t1 = 5s, t2 = 4s, t3 = 8s
As a result, the overall velocity across the interval can be calculated as the sum of these velocities.
Vtotal = v1+v2+v3 = 10+20+15 = 45m/s
Similarly, the total time interval can be calculated by adding these intervals together.
ttotal = t1+t2+t3 = 5+4+8 = 17s
Now, we are asked to determine the bus's average acceleration. The average acceleration formula is given by:
= \[a_{avg}=\frac{v_{1}+v_{2}+.....+v_{n}}{t_{1}+t_{2}+.....+t_{n}}\]…..(1)
\[a_{avg}=\frac{45}{17}= 2.647m/s^{2}\approx 2.65 m/s^{2}\]
Therefore, the average velocity of the bus is 2.65 m/s2.
This is how the average acceleration formula is derived and used to solve problems. Understand the use of different terms and their implications in the formula in the solved examples.
FAQs on Average Acceleration Formula
1. What is acceleration?
A point or object is said to be accelerated if it moves faster or slower in a straight line. Because the direction of motion on a circle is continually changing, the motion is accelerated even if the speed remains constant. Both effects contribute to an acceleration in all other types of motion. Since it has both a magnitude and a direction, acceleration is a vector quantity.
2. What is Average Acceleration?
Everything in the actual world is in motion. Objects move at varying speeds or constant speeds. For example, you may have noticed that when you press the gas pedal or the brake pedal on your automobile, the car's speed increases or decreases, or the car's direction changes.
Acceleration is the physics term for changes in the magnitude of velocity or direction of a moving body.
In other terms, the average acceleration is defined as the rate of change in the velocity of an object, and it is calculated using the formula:
Average acceleration is the rate at which velocity changes: a–=ΔvΔt=vf−v0tf−t0,
where a− is average acceleration, v is velocity, and t is time. (The bar over the a means average acceleration.)
