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All 12 Flashcards — Acceleration
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Question
Define acceleration.
Answer
The **rate of change of velocity** — how much the velocity changes each second. Unit: m s⁻².
Question
What is the unit of acceleration?
Answer
**m s⁻²** (metres per second, every second).
Question
On a velocity–time graph, what is the slope?
Answer
The **acceleration**.
Question
On an acceleration–time graph, what is the area under the line?
Answer
The **change in velocity**. From rest, that area is the velocity reached.
Question
A flat (horizontal) v–t line means…
Answer
Constant velocity → **zero** acceleration.
Question
When does an object slow down?
Answer
When its **acceleration is opposite to its velocity**. (If positive is the direction of motion, that means a negative acceleration.)
Question
A downward-sloping v–t line means…
Answer
The velocity is **decreasing**. If the velocity is positive the object is slowing down; if it is already negative it is speeding up in the negative direction.
Question
An a–t graph crosses the time axis — what is zero there?
Answer
The **acceleration** (not the velocity). The object may still be moving.
Question
Does changing direction count as acceleration?
Answer
**Yes** — velocity includes direction, so changing direction changes the velocity.
Question
Formula for acceleration from a graph?
Answer
$a = \dfrac{v - u}{t}$ — change in velocity ÷ time.
Question
What is instantaneous acceleration?
Answer
The acceleration at one moment: the slope of the **tangent** to the v–t graph at that time.
Question
Uniform or non-uniform acceleration on a v–t graph?
Answer
A **straight** line: uniform (constant). A **curved** line: non-uniform.
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Topic 1.1 hub
Kinematics
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