Motion with Different Accelerations
In this movie, you see a simulation of two different objects starting
from rest with two different accelerations (one high and one low). Notice how the spaces (change in displacement) between
each image of the balls gets larger, which indicates the objects are both accelerating.
There are three color coded graphs beneath the moving objects which display:
Displacement vs Time, Velocity vs Time, and Acceleration vs Time. You should notice
the following things from the graphs:
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- Displacement vs Time
- The change in displacement of both objects increase.
Both objects produce parabolic curves on the graph and the one with the higher
acceleration has a steeper curve.
It should be noted that the slopes at different points of the curve represents the
velocity at that point in time.
It should also noted that the area under the curve for this graph is absolutely
meaningless.
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- Velocity vs Time
- Both objects produce straight line graphs with the slope of each line
representing the acceleration of the individual object.
Notice the object with the greater slope has the greater acceleration.
The area under the curve represents the displacement traveled by the individual object.
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- Acceleration vs Time
- Both objects have constant accelerations.
The area under the curve represents the average velocity of the object.
The slope of the line represents the rate of change of acceleration (also known as the
Jerk) which in this case is zero
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©1998 Science Joy Wagon