10 Examples of Acceleration In Everyday Life

Examples of Acceleration In Everyday Life

Examples of Acceleration In Everyday Life

Acceleration is defined as the rate at which an object’s velocity changes over time. In this article, we will explore 10 examples of acceleration in everyday life to better understand the concept of acceleration.

From the force of gravity to a car accelerating on the highway, you will discover some surprising and interesting examples of acceleration in daily life. So, let us dive right in and explore 10 examples of acceleration in everyday life.

Now, before you read any further related to examples of acceleration in everyday life, it might be a good idea to understand acceleration in brief. It will help you to understand examples better. If you want to skip, you can skip by clicking on the link below.

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Acceleration In Brief

• Acceleration is the rate at which something accelerates, slows down, or changes direction.
  For example, when you are in a car and the driver presses the gas pedal, the car starts moving faster, which means it is accelerating.
  On the other hand, when the driver applies the brakes, the car slows down, which means it is decelerating or experiencing negative acceleration.

So, acceleration is a measure of how fast something is speeding up, slowing down, or changing direction.

 

10 Examples of Acceleration In Everyday Life

I hope you understood the concept of acceleration given above. Now let’s look at the daily life examples of acceleration to understand acceleration more clearly.

Examples

1. Falling

2. Throwing a ball

3. Kicking a ball

4. Hitting a baseball

5. A car starting up

6. A rollercoaster accelerates as it climbs up a hill.

7. A tennis ball accelerates towards the racket during a serve.

8. An airplane taking off

9. An object being shot from a cannon

10. A bicycle accelerates as the rider pedals harder.
    

Now let’s explain them one by one:

1. Falling

• When an object falls, it experiences a constant acceleration due to gravity.
• This acceleration causes the object’s velocity to increase at a rate of approximately 9.8 meters per second squared.
• In other words, the object’s speed increases by 9.8 meters per second every second it falls.

2. Throwing a ball

• When a ball is thrown, it accelerates from rest to a certain velocity.
• The ball’s acceleration depends on its mass and the force applied to it.
• Additionally, air resistance affects the acceleration of the ball by creating drag.

3. Kicking a ball

• Kicking a ball causes it to accelerate forward.
• The acceleration of the ball depends on its mass and the force of the kick.
• Like throwing a ball, air resistance affects the acceleration of the ball.

4. Hitting a baseball

• When a baseball is hit, it accelerates from rest to a certain velocity.
• The ball’s acceleration depends on its mass and the force applied to it.
• Gravity and air resistance also affect the acceleration of the ball.

5. A car starting up

• When a car starts up, it accelerates from rest to a certain velocity.
• The acceleration of the car depends on the force of the engine and its mass.
• Friction between the car’s tires and the road affects the car’s acceleration.

6. A rollercoaster accelerating as it climbs up a hill.

• As a rollercoaster climbs up a hill, it accelerates due to the force of gravity.
• The acceleration depends on the slope of the hill, the mass of the rollercoaster, and the force of gravity.
• The acceleration causes the rollercoaster’s velocity to increase.

7. A tennis ball accelerating towards the racket during a serve.

• During a tennis serve, the tennis ball accelerates towards the racket due to the force applied by the player’s arm.
• The acceleration of the ball depends on its mass, the force applied, and the air resistance it encounters.
• Once the ball makes contact with the racket, its velocity changes direction.

8. An airplane taking off

• When an airplane takes off, it accelerates down the runway.
• The acceleration of the airplane depends on the power of its engines and its weight.
• Lift generated by the wings and air resistance also affect the acceleration of the airplane.

9. An object being shot from a cannon

• Shooting an object from a cannon causes it to accelerate from rest to a high velocity.
• The object’s acceleration depends on the force of the explosion in the cannon and its mass.
• Air resistance affects the acceleration of the object by creating drag.

10. A bicycle accelerating as the rider pedals harder.

• When a person rides a bicycle, they can accelerate by pedaling harder.
• The acceleration of the bicycle depends on the force of the rider’s legs pushing against the pedals and the mass of the bicycle and rider.
• Air resistance and friction between the bicycle’s tires and the road also affect the acceleration of the bicycle.

I hope that these examples of acceleration in daily life helped you with a better understanding of the concept.

If there are any further questions or uncertainties regarding the information provided, we are always available to clarify and answer any queries.

 

References

• “Acceleration” article on the Khan Academy website: https://www.khanacademy.org/science/physics/one-dimensional-motion/kinematic-formulas/a/what-is-acceleration

This article covers the definition of acceleration, how it is measured, and how it relates to velocity and time. It includes clear explanations and diagrams, as well as practice problems and quizzes.

• “Acceleration” section on the Physics Classroom website: https://www.physicsclassroom.com/class/1DKin/Lesson-1/Acceleration

This section provides a more in-depth explanation of acceleration, including how it is calculated, the different types of acceleration, and how it is related to force and mass. It also includes interactive simulations and practice problems.

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