What is My Acceleration?

From Doug Porter, NEAT, Rising Sun, Indiana

Purpose: The purpose of this activity is to learn how to measure acceleration and deceleration!" #ou will calculate your acceleration over a $% m run and then graph your results! Procedure: Each of you will measure your own acceleration over a $% m run! #ou will run $% m from the start line and accelerate to as fast as you can go! At the $%m line, you will stop! At & meter intervals your time will 'e recorded 'y the timers! (n the data ta'le, record your times under the distance you traveled! )rom this data you will 'e a'le to calculate your velocity at each point! Data Table: Distance (m) Time (s) "elocity (m#s) $alculations: %ho& your &or' (or the (ollo&in)* * *alculate your acceleration from the %m to the +%m point! Are you accelerating or decelerating over this distance, Initial -elocity . -elocity at % meters! )inal -elocity . -elocity at +% meters! /se time at +% meters! !* *alculate your acceleration from the +%m to $%m point! Are you accelerating or decelerating over this distance, Initial -elocity . -elocity at +% meters! )inal -elocity . -elocity at $% meters! /se time from +% meters to $% meters 0hint, you need to su'tract to find the time you ran from +%m to $% m1! +raph: Set up a graph on your own paper! Place distance on the # a2is and Time on the 3 a2is! 4e sure to follow all rules of graphing! ,uestions: * Did you see an upward curve on your graph, If so, what does that tell you a'out your acceleration, (n your graph, did you see the line flatten out to hori5ontal, 6hat does that tell you a'out your acceleration, 0 meters 5 meters 0 meters 5 meters !0 meters