Kinematic Concepts - Mission KC8 Detailed Help

The velocity-time data sets below represent the motion of four objects. Which data set depicts the largest acceleration? (OR smallest acceleration?) Ignore all + and - signs; compare magnitude only.

 
Data tell a story - in this case, a story about how the velocity of the object is changing at 1-second (or even 0.5-second) intervals. An inspection of each table allows you to determine if the velocity is changing - that is, if the object is accelerating. Such an inspection also allows you to determine the rate at which the velocity is changing - that is, the actual acceleration value. Objects with a large acceleration are changing their velocity by a high rate. Objects with a small acceleration are changing their velocity by a small rate. Perhaps the easiest way to determine the acceleration is to inspect the first and last row of the data table. Using these two rows, calculate the ratio of the velocity change to time change; this is the acceleration value. See Formula Frenzy section. By comparing all four objects, the question can be answered.


 
The average acceleration value (a) of an object can be computed from knowledge of the velocity change (Δv) and time change (Δt).
 
a = Δv / Δt



 
The questions in this sublevel include data tables. There are two types of data tables - position-time data and velocity-time data. For each question, give careful attention to which type of data table is being represented. Quite obviously the interpretation of the data is dependent upon what type of data is being displayed.


 

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