Calculating Acceleration

Acceleration

by Toni Berthiaume

Multiple Choice

What is the formula to calculate speed?

• Speed = time/distance

• Speed = distance/time

• Speed = distance x time

• Speed = time x distance

Multiple Choice

When a car goes around a corner at 20 mph, why do we say it  accelerates?

• The car is accelerating because of the velocity is constant

• The car accelerates because it's going 20 mph

• Cars always accelerate when they are in motion

• The car is accelerating because it's changing direction

Multiple Choice

Calculate the average speed (in meter/sec) if a cheetah runs 180 meters in 10 seconds.

• 198 m/sec

• 170 m/sec

• 12 m/sec

• 18 m/sec

Multiple Choice

Acceleration is defined as the CHANGE in 

• time it takes for one place to move to another place. 

• velocity of an object.

• distance divided by the time interval 

• velocity divided by the time interval 

Multiple Choice

Acceleration can be classified as _______________

• Speeding up

• Slowing Down

• Changing directions

• All of the above

Multiple Choice

In which of the following situations would a car be speeding up while traveling forward?

• positive velocity and positive acceleration

• positive velocity and negative acceleration

• negative velocity and positive acceleration

• negative velocity and negative acceleration

Multiple Choice

In which of the following situations would a car be slowing down while traveling backwards?

• positive velocity and positive acceleration

• positive velocity and negative acceleration

• negative velocity and positive acceleration

• negative velocity and negative acceleration

Multiple Choice

Acceleration only takes place when things speed up. 

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

The picture of the position vs. time graph shows an object that is...

• accelerating/speeding up

• moving at a constant speed 

• not moving 

• accelerating/slowing down. 

Multiple Choice

Acceleration is defined as the CHANGE in 

• time it takes for one place to move to another place. 

• velocity of an object.

• distance divided by the time interval 

• velocity divided by the time interval 

Multiple Choice

Which graph represents zero acceleration (constant velocity)?

• A

• B

• C

• D

Multiple Choice

Which graph represents the greatest acceleration?

• A

• B

• C

• D

Multiple Choice

Which section of the graph shows acceleration?

• AB

• BC

• EF

• FG

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is a unit for acceleration?

• km/s

• m/s²

• mi/hr

• ft

Multiple Choice

What happened during C to D point?

• not moving

• increasing speed at a constant rate

• moving at a constant speed

• moving at 0 m/s² acceleration

Multiple Choice

A car turns right without slowing down. Is this an example of acceleration?

• No, acceleration is the increase or decrease in speed.

• Yes, because the car changed directions.

• Yes, because the car increased it's speed.

• No, because the car did not change directions.

Multiple Choice

When are you undergoing an acceleration in a car? 

• speed up

• slow down

• make turns

• All of the above 

Multiple Choice

How can acceleration be zero?

• a car runs out of gas and slowly rolls to a stop

• a car decreases speed at a constant rate until it comes to rest

• car has constant speed and is traveling on a straight path

• the car travels round trip and is back at the starting point

Multiple Choice

What car has the fastest acceleration?

• Car goes from 0-60 Mph in 3 seconds

• Car goes from 0-60 Mph in 4 seconds

• Car goes from 0-60 Mph in 5 seconds

• Car goes from 0-60 Mph in 6 seconds

Multiple Choice

A drag racer accelerated from 0 m/s to 200 m/s in 5 s.  What was the acceleration?

• 0 m/s

• 40 m/s²

• -40 m/s²

• 40 m/s

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A ball starting from rest rolls down a hill. After 10 seconds it's speed is 15 m/s. What is the acceleration of the ball?

m/s

Acceleration = final velocity - initial velocity / time.

Fill in the Blanks

A car starting from rest accelerates at a rate of 8.0 m/s/s. What is its final speed a the end of 4 seconds?

m/s

Final Speed = initial velocity + (Acceleration x Time)

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A skateboarder traveling at 7.0 m/s rolls to a stop at the top of a ramp in 3.0 seconds. What is the skaters acceleration?

m/s/s

**Remember slowing down shows a NEGATIVE acceleration**

Acceleration = final velocity - initial velocity / time