大象传媒

Motion - AQA SynergyVelocity, acceleration and distance - Higher

The movement of objects can be described using motion graphs and numerical values. These are both used to help in the design of faster and more efficient vehicles.

Part of Combined ScienceMovement and interactions

Velocity, acceleration and distance - Higher

This equation applies to objects in uniform acceleration:

(final velocity)2 鈥 (initial velocity)2 = 2 脳 acceleration 脳 distance

\(v{^2} - u{^2} = 2 as\)

This is when:

  • (\(\text{v}\)) is measured in metres per second (m/s)
  • (\(\text{u}\)) is measured in metres per second (m/s)
  • acceleration (\(\text{a}\)) is measured in metres per second squared (m/s2 )
  • displacement (\(\text{s}\)) is measured in metres (m)

Learn more on acceleration in this podcast

Calculating final velocity

The equation above can be used to calculate the final velocity of an object if its initial velocity, acceleration and displacement are known. To do this, change the subject to find v:

\(v{^2} - u{^2} = 2 as\)

\(\text{v} = \sqrt{\text{u}^2 + 2\text{as}}\)

A biscuit is dropped 300 m, from rest, from the Eiffel tower. Calculate its final velocity. (Acceleration due to gravity = 9.8 m/s2.)

\(v{^2} - u{^2} = 2 as\)

\(\text{v} = \sqrt{\text{u}^2 + 2\text{as}}\)

\(\text{v} = \sqrt{0^2 + 2 \times 9.8 \times 300}\)

\(\text{v} = \sqrt{5,880}\)

= 76.7 m/s

Calculating acceleration

The equation can also be used to calculate the acceleration of an object if its initial and final velocities, and the displacement are known. To do this, rearrange the equation to find a:

\(v{^2} - u{^2} = 2 as\)

\(\text{a} = \frac{\text{v}^{2} - \text{u}^{2}}{2\text{s}}\)

Example

A train accelerates uniformly from rest to 24 m/s on a straight part of the track. It travels 1.44 km. Calculate its acceleration.

First convert km to m:

1.44 km = 1.44 脳 1,000 = 1,440 m

Then use the values in the equation:

\(v{^2} - u{^2} = 2 as\)

\(\text{a} = \frac{\text{v}^{2} - \text{u}^{2}}{2\text{s}}\)

\(\text{a} = \frac{24^{2} - 0^{2}}{2 \times 1,440}\)

\(\text{a} = \frac{576}{2,880}\)

= 0.2 m/s2

Calculating other quantities

The equation can also be rearranged to find initial velocity (\(\text{u}\)) and displacement (\(\text{s}\)):

\(\text{u}^{2} = \text{v}^{2} - 2 \text{as}\)

\(\text{s} = \frac{\text{v}^{2} - \text{u}^{2}}{2\text{a}}\)

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