Acceleration

​What is Acceleration?

By Sarah Wenger

Today's Goals

I can identify the three types of Acceleration
I can differentiate between Acceleration and Speed

Speed is defined as how fast an object is moving

Speed can be constant (stay the same) or change (go faster or slower).

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​Speed

Three Types of Speed:
1. Increasing
2. Decreasing
3. Staying the same (constant speed).

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​Types of Speed

​When speed changes in one of those three ways, we call it Acceleration

​Acceleration

• When something speeds up, its speed increases. We call this positive acceleration.

• speed increases = positive acceleration.

​Acceleration

​Positive Acceleration is like:
Stepping on the gas pedal in a car

​Positive Acceleration

​When something slows down, its speed decrease. We call this: Negative Acceleration

speed decreases = Negative Acceleration

​Acceleration

​Negative Acceleration is like:
Stepping on the breaks in a car

Negative Acceleration

​If an object's speed does not change, it has zero acceleration.

Constant Speed = Zero Acceleration

​Acceleration

​Zero Acceleration (or, Constant Speed) is like:
Cruise control in a car

Zero Acceleration

Multiple Choice

Scenario: A student is running at a steady pace around the track.

Is the student . . .

• speeding up

• slowing down

• moving at a constant speed

Multiple Choice

Scenario: A student is running at a steady pace around the track.

This type of acceleration is . . .

• Positive Acceleration

• Zero Acceleration

• Negative Acceleration

Multiple Choice

A car slowing to a stop for a cross walk

This is an example of . . .

• Positive Acceleration

• Zero Acceleration

• Negative Acceleration

Multiple Choice

A race car when the green light flashes at the start of a race.

This is an example of . . .

• Positive Acceleration

• Zero Acceleration

• Negative Acceleration

Poll

Our Goal for Today: I can identify the three types of acceleration.

Rate your understanding of the three types of Acceleration

• I understand everything!

• I still have a few questions

• I have lots of questions