PHYS-1500 PHYSICAL MODELING
9/05/2006, Class 3: Acceleration
FALL 2006
SOLUTION
Work through lessons 1 and 2, that start on page 49. You will have to construct Model 2.7. Do
only parts a and b of lesson 1 (do not do part c). Sketch the graphs from lesson 1.b, and write
down the numerical results from lesson 2.
1b.
Non-uniform Acceleration
20
10
0
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
m/s²
-10
m/s
-20
-30
-40
t (s)
Number 2. Error for t = .5 is 0.04167 = 1.25%
Error for t = .2 is 0.00667 = 0.20%
Then, try the following problem.
An accelerometer on board an airplane in level flight provides the record of acceleration vs. time,
over a 16.0 second period, given in the spreadsheet that is linked to this document. At the time
the record began, the airplane’s speed was 100 m/s. Just double click on the Excel icon to access
the data.
1. Make a graph of acceleration vs. time for the 16.0 second interval for which data are provided.
Accelerometer
6.00
a (m/s²)
5.00
4.00
3.00
2.00
1.00
0.00
0.00
5.00
10.00
15.00
20.00
t (s)
2. Calculate the velocity of the airplane as a function of time from t = 0 to t = 16.0 s. Make a
graph of v vs. t for that time interval.
Velocity
170.00
160.00
v (m/s)
150.00
140.00
130.00
120.00
110.00
100.00
0.00
5.00
10.00
15.00
20.00
t (s)
3. What is the speed of the airplane at t = 16.0 s? Give the result in meters per second and miles
per hour. v = 157.85 m/s = 353.58 mi/h
4. Calculate the distance the airplane has traveled as a function of time from t = 0 to t = 16.0 s.
Make a graph of x vs. t for that time interval.
Displacement
2500.00
x (m)
2000.00
1500.00
1000.00
500.00
0.00
0.00
5.00
10.00
15.00
20.00
t (s)
5. How far did the airplane travel in the 16.0 second interval? Express the answer in miles as
well as meters. x = 2020.85 m = 1.26 mi