Physics Unit 1 - Motion

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1.2 - 1.5 Speed, Velocity and Acceleration

Speed = Distance / Time

Velocity is speed in a given direction. 

Acceleration is change of velocity per second (m/s^2) 

Acceleration = change in velocity / time taken for the change

or

a = v - u / t

v = speed,   u = initial speed,   t = time

you can find the v by rearraging the formula 

at = v - u 

v = u + at

for speed time graphs, acceleration = change of speed / time

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1.6 Free Fall

Free fall is the motion of an object falling at a constant acceleration. 

The acceleration of a freely falling body is constant.

Acceleration of free fall (aka gravity)  = 9.81m/s or 10m/s 

Air resistance (or drag) is the force acting against gravity, the free falling object. 

Terminal velocity is when an object reaches its maximum velocity. 

This happens when the air resistance increases because of the increase in speed of the object. As it falls, the drag force causes it to reach a constant speed vertically downwards. Thus, the air resistance and acceleration cancel eachother out to become equal, causing terminal velocity. 

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