Constant Acceleration Formulae

Foundational Understanding

Constant acceleration refers to motion where acceleration does not change over time. It involves simplifications and specific formulae.
Acceleration is defined as the rate of change of velocity per unit of time. Therefore, it’s a measure of how a speed changes per unit time.

Key Formulae

First equation of motion: Final velocity (v) is equal to initial velocity (u) plus acceleration (a) times time (t), represented as v = u + at.
Second equation of motion: Displacement (s) is equal to initial velocity (u) times time (t) plus half the acceleration (a) times square of time (t²), expressed as s = ut + 1/2at².
Third equation of motion: The square of the final velocity (v²) equals the square of the initial velocity (u²) plus twice the acceleration (a) times displacement (s), written as v² = u² + 2as.

Important Concepts

Velocity refers to speed in a given direction, whereas acceleration is the rate at which velocity changes - it can involve an increase or decrease in speed.
Displacement, unlike distance, takes into account the direction of motion and is therefore a vector quantity.
Remember the important distinction between velocity and speed - velocity is a vector quantity, meaning it has both magnitude (speed) and direction.

Applications

These equations of motion are used across a range of physical science disciplines, including physics and engineering, to predict future motion based on initial conditions.
Real-world applications include calculating stopping distances for road vehicles, predicting the flight of projectiles, and in predicting the motion of falling bodies under gravity.

Remember to apply these formulae in appropriate real-world contexts to deepen understanding. Different problem-solving strategies may be required depending on what quantities are known and what needs to be found.