Acceleration

Experiments in this collection help students to distinguish between average and instantaneous velocities, and to understand that 'metres per second per second' is an appropriate unit for a rate of change of velocity. Visualizing velocity changes can be a vital first step, so velocity-time graphs and multiflash photos are particularly effective. 

Experiments

Compensating for friction

Distinguishing between velocity and acceleration

Finding average acceleration with a ticker-timer

Velocity-time graphs with a ticker-timer

Non-uniform acceleration with a ticker-timer

Investigating motion on a sloping surface

Measurement of acceleration using light gates

Related Guidance

Using speed-time graphs to find an equation

The automatically straight-line graph