Calculus 1 : Acceleration

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for Calculus 1

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Example Questions

Example Question #661 : Spatial Calculus

The position of a point is found by the following function:

What is the acceleration at ?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

In order to find the acceleration of any point given a position function, we must first find the derivative of the position function and then the derivative of the velocity function giving us the acceleration function, .

This is the position function: 

The derivative gives us the velocity function:  

The derivative of the velocity function gives us the acceleration function: 

You can then find the acceleration of a given point by substituting it in for the variable: 

Therefore, the velocity at  is: 

Example Question #662 : Spatial Calculus

The position of a point is found by the following function:

What is the acceleration at ?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

In order to find the acceleration of any point given a position function, we must first find the derivative of the position function and then the derivative of the velocity function giving us the acceleration function, .

This is the position function: 

The derivative gives us the velocity function:  

 

The derivative of the velocity function gives us the acceleration function: 

You can then find the acceleration of a given point by substituting it in for the variable: 

Therefore, the velocity at  is: 

Example Question #663 : Spatial Calculus

The position of a point is found by the following function:

What is the acceleration at ?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

In order to find the acceleration of any point given a position function, we must first find the derivative of the position function and then the derivative of the velocity function giving us the acceleration function, .

This is the position function: 

The derivative gives us the velocity function: 

The derivative of the velocity function gives us the acceleration function: 

You can then find the acceleration of a given point by substituting it in for the variable: 

Therefore, the velocity at  is: 

Example Question #664 : Spatial Calculus

The position of a point is found by the following function:

What is the acceleration at ?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

In order to find the acceleration of any point given a position function, we must first find the derivative of the position function and then the derivative of the velocity function giving us the acceleration function, .

This is the position function: 

The derivative gives us the velocity function:  

The derivative of the velocity function gives us the acceleration function: 

You can then find the acceleration of a given point by substituting it in for the variable: 

Therefore, the velocity at  is: 

Example Question #665 : Spatial Calculus

The position of a point is found by the following function:

What is the acceleration at ?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

In order to find the acceleration of any point given a position function, we must first find the derivative of the position function and then the derivative of the velocity function giving us the acceleration function, .

This is the position function: 

The derivative gives us the velocity function:   

The derivative of the velocity function gives us the acceleration function: 

You can then find the acceleration of a given point by substituting it in for the variable: 

Therefore, the velocity at  is: 

Example Question #664 : Spatial Calculus

A plane moves with a velocity given by the following function:

What is the acceleration of the plane at time t=3?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

The acceleration function of the plane is given by the first derivative of the velocity function:

The derivative was found using the following rules:

Now, to find the acceleration at t=3, plug this into the acceleration function:

Example Question #665 : Spatial Calculus

Find the acceleration function given the position function below:

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

To solve, you must realize that acceleration is the second derivative of position. Thus,

Therefore, you must differentiate p(t) twice using the power rule:

Thus,

Therefore,

Example Question #666 : Spatial Calculus

The velocity of a particle is given by the function . What is the acceleration of the particle at time  ?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Acceleration of a particle can be found by taking the derivative of the velocity function with respect to time. Recall that a derivative gives the rate of change of some parameter, relative to the change of some other variable. When we take the derivative of velocity with respect to time, we are evaluating how velocity changes over time; i.e acceleration! This is just like finding velocity by taking the derivative of the position function.

Taking the derivative of the function

The acceleration function is

At time 

Example Question #667 : Spatial Calculus

The velocity of a particle is given by the function . What is the acceleration of the particle at time  ?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Acceleration of a particle can be found by taking the derivative of the velocity function with respect to time. Recall that a derivative gives the rate of change of some parameter, relative to the change of some other variable. When we take the derivative of velocity with respect to time, we are evaluating how velocity changes over time; i.e acceleration! This is just like finding velocity by taking the derivative of the position function.

Taking the derivative of the function

We'll need to make use of the following derivative rule(s):

Derivative of a natural log: 

Trigonometric derivative: 

Note that u may represent large functions, and not just individual variables!

The acceleration function is

At time 

Example Question #273 : How To Find Acceleration

The velocity of a particle is given by the function . What is the acceleration of the particle at time  ?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Acceleration of a particle can be found by taking the derivative of the velocity function with respect to time. Recall that a derivative gives the rate of change of some parameter, relative to the change of some other variable. When we take the derivative of velocity with respect to time, we are evaluating how velocity changes over time; i.e acceleration! This is just like finding velocity by taking the derivative of the position function.

Taking the derivative of the function

We'll need to make use of the following derivative rule(s):

Derivative of a natural log: 

Trigonometric derivative: 

Note that u may represent large functions, and not just individual variables!

The acceleration function is

At time 

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