Calculating Velocity w/ Acceleration & Initial Velocity

  • Thread starter farukh
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In summary: Maybe you could ask him what he wants to do?:)In summary, the equation for velocity is v=v0+at, and the equation for acceleration is a=6t.
  • #1
farukh
4
0

1. Given acceleration of an object is given by

a(t) = 6t

and the intial velocity is 9 m/s





2. the general form we learned is

v(t) = -at + v0




3. so i guess

v(t) = -6t^2 + 9

is that right ? can i substitute 6t for a ... or a(t) doesn't equal a
 
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  • #2
What are you trying to achieve? There is no question.
 
  • #3
In order to obtain a formula for velocity, you would need to integrate the expression for acceleration.
 
  • #4
ok basicaly my question is does

a(t) = a

?

becuase the equation is v(t) = -at + v0
and if a(t)=6t then is this right v(t) = -6tt + v0
 
  • #5
Well, firstly the equation is v=v0+at. Note that this equation only holds for constant acceleration. Here, your acceleration is 6t (i.e. not constant), so in order to derive the equation for velocity, you must integrate the expression for acceleration, using the initial condition v0=9

So, no, your equation is not right!
 
  • #6
ok i just figured it out how to do the solutions with integration

v(t) = integral 6t
v(t) = 3t^2 + c
9 = 3(0)^2 + c
9 = c

v(t) = 3t^2 + 9

but is there any way to do this without using integration because we haven't learned integration yet..
 
Last edited:
  • #7
Your equation is still wrong. Acceleration is 6t, so you want to integrate this. Your method is correct, you just need to use the correct expression for a.

I can't think of a way to find the velocity without using integration, but I may be overlooking something!
 
  • #8
:) now i think its ok
 
  • #9
Are you asking what is the acceleration if the initial velocity is 9m/s?
 
  • #10
farukh said:
:) now i think its ok

Yup, that looks fine now.

Kurdt said:
Are you asking what is the acceleration if the initial velocity is 9m/s?

No, he wanted a general formula for the velocity, given that the acceleration is a=6t, and subject to the initial condition v0=9
 
  • #11
How to do this problem without integration? Hmm I don't see how that would work...actually I vaugely remember some really fat long painful way that even takes into account the Earth changing gravity at different altitudes, but even that need differentiation.
 

FAQ: Calculating Velocity w/ Acceleration & Initial Velocity

How do you calculate velocity with acceleration and initial velocity?

The formula for calculating velocity with acceleration and initial velocity is final velocity = initial velocity + (acceleration * time). This formula is based on the equation of motion, where velocity is equal to initial velocity plus the product of acceleration and time.

What is acceleration and how is it related to velocity?

Acceleration is the rate of change of velocity over time. It is a vector quantity, meaning it has both magnitude (speed) and direction. In terms of velocity, acceleration can either increase or decrease the speed of an object, or change its direction.

Can velocity and acceleration have different units of measurement?

Yes, velocity and acceleration can have different units of measurement. Velocity is typically measured in meters per second (m/s) while acceleration is measured in meters per second squared (m/s^2). However, both can also be measured in other units such as miles per hour (mph) or kilometers per hour (km/h).

How does initial velocity affect the final velocity in a calculation?

The initial velocity affects the final velocity by determining the starting point of the object's motion. If the initial velocity is positive, the object will move in the direction of the initial velocity and the final velocity will be greater. If the initial velocity is negative, the object will move in the opposite direction and the final velocity will be smaller.

Can you calculate the velocity of an object with only its acceleration?

No, in order to calculate the velocity of an object, both the acceleration and initial velocity must be known. This is because the initial velocity determines the starting point of the object's motion, which is necessary to calculate the final velocity using the formula final velocity = initial velocity + (acceleration * time).

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