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Speed and Acceleration. By: Ryan Pedrigi Resident Scientist/Mathematician. What is speed?. A way of describing “how fast” something is moving. More technically, speed is the rate of change of an objects position with respect to time. Calculation of Speed.
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Speed and Acceleration By: Ryan Pedrigi Resident Scientist/Mathematician
What is speed? • A way of describing “how fast” something is moving. • More technically, speed is the rate of change of an objects position with respect to time.
Calculation of Speed • There are a couple of different ways to calculate speed • Average speed, S, is simply the change in position, x, divided by the time, t, taken to travel that distance… Maximum Speed = 62 mph
Applications of Speed: British Thrust SSC Max Speed = 763 MPH
Applications of Speed: Supersonic Flight Max Speed = 1650 MPH (Mach 2.2)
Applications of Speed: Sky Diver Terminal Velocity = 200 MPH
Sample Problem: Speed • A runner runs a 400 meter race in a time of 50 seconds. What is her average speed?
What is Acceleration? • A way of describing how fast something is speeding up or slowing down. • More technically, acceleration is the rate of change of an objects speed with respect to time.
Calculation of Acceleration • As with speed, there are a couple of different ways to calculate acceleration • Average acceleration, a, is simply the time rate of change of speed, S,…
Applications of Acceleration: Lamborghini Accel. = 15.38 MPH/sec = 22.56 ft/sec^2 Engine: 6 liter, V12Horsepower: 550 @ 7100 RPMMaximum Speed: 210 MPH0-60: 3.9 sec0-100: 8.8 secPrice: $275,000
Applications of Acceleration: Space Shuttle Accel. = 64.87 MPH/sec = 95.14 ft/sec^2 Speed Attained: > 17,500 MPHTime to Low Orbit: 11 min.Time to Space: 45 min.
Sample Problem: Acceleration • A motorcycle turns the corner of a race track at 85 MPH and then speeds up to 150 MPH on the straightaway. Knowing that it took 5 seconds to change speed, what is the average acceleration?