Unit 3- Uniform Acceleration

As a carousel starts to spin it gradually picks up speed, or accelerates. 

Acceleration= a change in velocity per unit of time 

A= V/ T Units= m/ (s)2

In Unit 3 we learned a lot about acceleration. I could graph the position, velocity, time and acceleration of a carousel. 

We also learned a few equations that can help us to figure out distance, acceleration, time, or velocity. 

Equations: 

d= 1/2(a)(t)2 + (Vo)(t)

v=Vo + (a)(t)

(v)2=(Vo)2 + 2ad 

We also learned steps to help us use these 3 equations

1. Write down the question

2. Write down the givens

3. Make a sketch. 

4. Choose the equation. 

5. Plug in

6. Box answer

7. Check to make sure your answer makes sense. 

All of this information will help if you ever needed to figure out the velocity that the carousel is moving out, the distance that one of the moving animals has traveled, the acceleration the carousel has picked up, or the time that it took for the carousel to go around. 

Today we conducted a experiment using skateboards. We conducted 2 trials on 2 different types of moving objects, a skateboard and a "danger" board. We timed each 5 meters as the boards passed and then graphed the results.  By looking at the graph we noticed that acceleration increased as the skateboard's distance increased down the slanted surface. 

From the results we also figured out one graphing rule: curved position vs. time graphs give you acceleration.