Calculating Acceleration from Change in Velocity and Distance

In summary, An electron with an initial velocity of 1.0 × 10^4 meters/sec is electrically accelerated in a region 1 cm long and emerges with a velocity of 4.0 × 10^6 meters/sec. To calculate its acceleration, we use the formula a = Δv/Δt. To find the time it takes to traverse the 1 cm distance, we use the formula v^2 = u^2 + 2ax, where v is the final velocity, u is the initial velocity, a is the acceleration, and x is the distance.
  • #1
courtrigrad
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An electron with initial velocity [itex] v_{x}_{o} = 1.0 \times 10^{4} [/itex] meters/sec enters a region where it is electrically accelerated. It emerges with a velocity [itex] v_{x} = 4.0 \times 10^{6} [/itex] meters/sec. What was its acceleration, assumed constant? The accelerated region is 1 cm. So acceleration is defined as [itex] \frac{\Delta v}{\Delta t} [/itex]. How would I use the fact that the accelerated region is 1 cm long?

Thanks
 
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  • #2
Calculate the time it takes for the electron to traverse that distance. (Hint: What's the average velocity?)

You can also make use of any formulas you may know describing the kinematics of uniformly accelerated motion.
 
  • #3
use v^2 = u^2 + 2*a*x
where v = final velocity
u = initial velocity
a = acceleration
x = distance.
 

FAQ: Calculating Acceleration from Change in Velocity and Distance

What is motion in one dimension?

Motion in one dimension refers to the movement of an object in a straight line, where all its motion is along a single axis. This type of motion can be described using variables such as position, displacement, velocity, and acceleration.

What is the difference between speed and velocity?

Speed is a measure of how fast an object is moving, while velocity is a measure of both speed and direction. This means that an object can have the same speed but different velocities, depending on its direction of motion.

How is acceleration calculated in one dimension?

In one dimension, acceleration is calculated by dividing the change in velocity by the change in time. This can be represented by the equation a = (vf - vi) / t, where vf is the final velocity, vi is the initial velocity, and t is the change in time.

What is the difference between average and instantaneous velocity?

Average velocity is calculated by dividing the total displacement by the total time taken, while instantaneous velocity is the velocity of an object at a specific moment in time. Average velocity gives an overall picture of an object's motion, while instantaneous velocity provides information about its motion at a specific point in time.

How does the position-time graph relate to an object's motion in one dimension?

The position-time graph shows the position of an object at different points in time, and the slope of the graph represents the object's velocity. A steeper slope indicates a higher velocity, while a horizontal line indicates a constant velocity. The area under the graph represents the displacement of the object during a given time interval.

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