Instantaneous Acceleration Calculation

In summary, the instantaneous acceleration of a body can be calculated by dividing the net force acting on the body by its mass. In real-life situations, forces are never truly instantaneous, so the actual acceleration may vary. However, if the force is instantaneous, the acceleration will also be instantaneous. This can be seen on a velocity-time graph, where a constantly increasing plot indicates a constant acceleration. The equation of motion (Newton's 2nd) relates instantaneous acceleration to instantaneous net force, which includes friction. The rate of change of acceleration is also known as "jerk."
  • #1
cb. ram
what will be the instantaneous acceleration when a force act on a body and how to calculate it?for ex if a body of mass 10kg is acted upon by a force of 100N then it accelerate by 10ms^-2 by it take some time to reach this acceleration which can be found out by equation of laws of motion but i want to find out the instantaneous acceleration after the body is subjected to a force ?how to calculate it?
 
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  • #2
cb. ram said:
if a body of mass 10kg is acted upon by a force of 100N then it accelerate by 10ms^-2 by it take some time to reach this acceleration
No, this is the instantaneous acceleration.
 
  • #3
this can also be the actual acceleration .can be found out by the equation of motion(if the friction is negligible)
 
  • #4
If the force is instantaneous, so is the acceleration. Of course in the real world forces are never instantaneous (due to slack in the system, compressibility of materials etc.) so if you want to know how long it takes to reach this acceleration you need to know how long it takes to reach this force.

Note that the rate of change of acceleration is sometimes called "jerk", which is fairly appropriate.
 
  • #5
cb. ram said:
can be found out by the equation of motion(if the friction is negligible)
The equation (Newtons 2nd) relates instantaneous acceleration to instantaneous net force, which includes friction.
 
  • #6
sorry friends i just confused it .in the v-t graph if the plot is constantly increasing then the acceleration is constant so instantaneous acceleration should be=actual acceleration .so if the force continuously changes the acceleration should also be continuously changing(both force and the acceleration are then instantaneous).thank you friends am i right
 
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  • #7
acceleration (a) at any instant depends on net force (f) and mass (m):
a = f / m
 

FAQ: Instantaneous Acceleration Calculation

What is acceleration due to a force?

Acceleration due to a force is the rate at which an object's velocity changes when an external force is applied to it. It is typically measured in meters per second squared (m/s^2).

How is acceleration due to a force calculated?

Acceleration due to a force can be calculated using the formula a = F/m, where a is acceleration in m/s^2, F is the force applied in Newtons (N), and m is the mass of the object in kilograms (kg).

What factors affect acceleration due to a force?

The acceleration due to a force depends on the magnitude of the force applied and the mass of the object. It also depends on the direction of the force relative to the object's motion.

What is the difference between acceleration due to a force and acceleration due to gravity?

Acceleration due to a force refers to the change in an object's velocity caused by an external force, while acceleration due to gravity refers to the change in velocity caused by the force of gravity on an object. The acceleration due to gravity is constant (9.8 m/s^2), while acceleration due to a force can vary depending on the applied force.

How does acceleration due to a force affect the motion of an object?

Acceleration due to a force can either increase or decrease an object's velocity, depending on the direction of the force. A force in the same direction as the object's motion will increase its velocity, while a force in the opposite direction will decrease its velocity.

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