When is an Object Accelerating?

Most recent answer: 11/30/2014

Q:
When will you say if an object is accelerating?
- Rachel Magno (age 12)
Philippines
A:

Hi Rachel,

Think of an object free to move on a straight line.   If it's position on the line is a constant in time then you say it is not moving and its speed (or velocity in more than one dimension)  is zero.     If its position changes uniformly with time then you say its speed is a constant but its acceleration is zero.   If its speed increases in time then you say it has an acceleration.   If in a small amount of time Δt its velocity increases by an amount Δv then you say the acceleration is  a = Δv/Δt.

 

LeeH

 


(published on 11/30/2014)