Describe the average velocity and acceleration of an object.
- Averages of velocity and acceleration are calculated considering the initial and final states of an object over an interval of time.
- Average velocity is the displacement of an object divided by the interval of time in which that displacement occurs. Relevant equation:
- Average acceleration is the change in velocity divided by the interval of time in which that change in velocity occurs. Relevant equation: AP Physics 1: Algebra-Based Course and Exam Description Kinematics UNIT 1
- An object is accelerating if the magnitude and/or direction of the object’s velocity are changing.
- Calculating average velocity or average acceleration over a very small time interval yields a value that is very close to the instantaneous velocity or instantaneous acceleration. AP Physics 1: Algebra-Based Course and Exam Description Kinematics UNIT 1