Calculating Uniform Acceleration Flashcards

All 5 cards in this deck

What is the equation linking final velocity, initial velocity, acceleration and distance for uniform acceleration?

$v^2 - u^2 = 2 \times a \times x$, where $x$ is the distance in metres.

When should you use $v^2 - u^2 = 2ax$ instead of $a = (v-u) \div t$?

When the question involves distance and the time taken is not known.

True or false? In the equation $v^2 - u^2 = 2ax$, $x$ stands for the time taken.

False. $x$ is the distance travelled in metres.

What value of initial velocity $u$ do you use for an object that starts from rest?

$u = 0$ m/s.

What are the steps to find the distance travelled using $v^2 - u^2 = 2ax$?

e.g. a cyclist accelerates from rest to 10 m/s at 2 m/s$^2$

1. Substitute: $10^2 - 0^2 = 2 \times 2 \times x$
2. Rearrange: $x = \dfrac{100}{4}$
3. Distance = 25 m