Consider a body moving with initial velocity u. Let its velocity change to \(\mathrm{v}\), in time ' \(\mathrm{t}^{\prime}\). Then, the change in velocity is \(=\mathrm{v}-\mathrm{u}\). The change in velocity per unit time \(=\frac{\mathrm{v}-\mathrm{u}}{\mathrm{t}}\) By definition, the change in velocity per unit time is acceleration, a. Thus, \(\mathrm{a}=\frac{\mathrm{v}-\mathrm{u}}{\mathrm{t}}\) or \(\mathrm{v}-\mathrm{u}=\) at \(\mathrm{v}=\mathrm{u}+\mathrm{at}\)

Short Answer

Expert verified
Answer: The equation is v = u + at.

Step by step solution

01

Write down the definition of acceleration

Acceleration is defined as the change in velocity per unit time. Mathematically, a = (v - u) / t, where a is acceleration, v is final velocity, u is initial velocity, and t is time.
02

Rearrange the equation

We need to solve for the final velocity (v) in terms of initial velocity (u), acceleration (a), and time (t). To do so, we can multiply both sides of the equation by t: a = (v - u) / t => a * t = v - u.
03

Solve for the final velocity (v)

Now we can find the final velocity (v) by adding the initial velocity (u) to both sides of the equation: a * t + u = v - u + u => v = u + at.
04

Write the final equation

The final equation representing the relationship between initial velocity (u), final velocity (v), acceleration (a), and time (t) is: v = u + at. This equation shows how the final velocity of a body depends on its initial velocity, acceleration, and time.

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Key Concepts

These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.

Initial Velocity
Understanding the initial velocity is fundamental to studying motion in physics. It is the speed at which an object starts its journey before any external forces act upon it to change this speed. Imagine you're tossing a ball into the air; the initial velocity would be the speed of the ball as it leaves your hand.

Represented mathematically by the letter 'u', initial velocity is a vector quantity, meaning it has both magnitude (speed) and direction. In equations, it acts as the starting point for calculating changes in motion, including how fast something will be moving at a later time given certain conditions. It's essential to know the initial velocity to predict the object's future position and velocity.
Final Velocity
The term 'final velocity' refers to the speed of an object at the end of the considered time period and is denoted by 'v' in equations. If you watch a car accelerate down the street, its final velocity is how fast it's going at the moment you stop timing.

This concept is crucial because it can tell us whether an object has accelerated, decelerated, or maintained a constant speed over time. Final velocity is calculated based on the initial velocity, the acceleration (or deceleration) that the object has undergone, and the amount of time over which this change occurred. It helps in predicting the object's future motion or in determining the impact of different forces that the object has encountered during its movement.
Change in Velocity
The 'change in velocity' is defined as the difference between the final velocity and the initial velocity. It is a vector quantity that provides information about the magnitude and direction of the acceleration.

In mathematical terms, it is expressed as \( \Delta v = v - u \), showing how much an object's speed and direction of travel have altered over a given time frame. For example, if a cyclist starts at a speed of 5 meters per second and then accelerates to 15 meters per second, the change in velocity is 10 meters per second. This change is critical in calculating other aspects of motion, such as displacement and kinetic energy, making it a foundational concept in kinematics.
Unit Time
In physics, 'unit time' is a standard duration used for measuring how quickly or slowly changes occur. It standardizes the rate of change, making it easier to compare and contrast different scenarios. When discussing acceleration, unit time is usually in seconds, represented by 't' in equations.

By looking at changes per unit time, we can understand rates of acceleration or deceleration. This helps in quantifying motion in an easily interpretable way. For instance, when we discuss acceleration as meters per second squared (m/s\(^2\)), we're saying that for each second, the velocity changes by a certain amount of meters per second. Thus, unit time serves as a fundamental measuring stick for time-dependent changes in physical quantities.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

A simple pendulum that has time period of \(2 \mathrm{~s}\) is called seconds pendulum. Its length is approximately \(100 \mathrm{~cm}\) or \(1 \mathrm{~m} .\)

Take the bob of the pendulum to one side so that the pendulum makes \(5^{\circ}\) with the vertical and release the bob. Start the stop watch when the bob is at the mean or extreme position and find the time taken by the pendulum to complete 20 oscillations. Dividing the time for 20 oscillations by 20 gives the time period (T) of the pendulum. The above experiment can be repeated for different lengths \((80 \mathrm{~cm}\),

Fill in the Blanks. length \(\mathrm{T} \alpha \sqrt{\ell}\) Time period of a simple pendulum depends on its length.

The average speed \(=\) uniform speed \(=10 \mathrm{~km} \mathrm{~h}^{-1}\)

To mark a point for set of values \((1,5)\), look for 1 s on X-axis. Draw a line parallel to Y-axis and passing through this point. Look for \(5 \mathrm{~m}\) on the Y-axis and draw a line parallel to the X-axis passing through this point. The point of intersection gives the point that represents \((1,5) .\) In the same way, the points for other set of values can be plotted, as shown in the figure. (i) Join all the points. It is a straight line. The straight line is the distance-time graph for the motion of the motorbike. (ii) The distance-time graph of a body moving with a constant speed is a straight line. However, if the body does not move with constant speed, then its distance-time graph cannot be a straight line.

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