Physics Lesson 3.11.4 - Vector acceleration verse time graph and the hypothetical corresponding scalar acceleration vs time graph for the same motion

Please provide a rating, it takes seconds and helps us to keep this resource free for all to use

Welcome to our Physics lesson on Vector acceleration verse time graph and the hypothetical corresponding scalar acceleration vs time graph for the same motion, this is the fourth lesson of our suite of physics lessons covering the topic of Acceleration v's Time Graph, you can find links to the other lessons within this tutorial and access additional physics learning resources below this lesson.

Vector acceleration verse time graph and the hypothetical corresponding scalar acceleration vs time graph for the same motion

In the first graph we have a decelerated motion from t₁ to t₂. However, if this part of the graph is flipped vertically to obtain the graph of a scalar quantity we obtain a speeding up section in the corresponding part of the second graph (from t₁ to t₂). Therefore, we obtain a wrong graph here. This means it is not possible to use the concept of scalar acceleration to subjoin that of vector acceleration as we did earlier in displacement-distance and velocity-speed correspondence. Hence, we obtain a very important kinematic property:

"Acceleration cannot be a scalar; it is always a vector quantity as it can be also negative."

You have reach the end of Physics lesson 3.11.4 Vector acceleration verse time graph and the hypothetical corresponding scalar acceleration vs time graph for the same motion. There are 5 lessons in this physics tutorial covering Acceleration v's Time Graph, you can access all the lessons from this tutorial below.

More Acceleration v's Time Graph Lessons and Learning Resources

Whats next?

Enjoy the "Vector acceleration verse time graph and the hypothetical corresponding scalar acceleration vs time graph for the same motion" physics lesson? People who liked the "Acceleration v's Time Graph lesson found the following resources useful:

1. Vector Feedback. Helps other - Leave a rating for this vector (see below)
2. Kinematics Physics tutorial: Acceleration v's Time Graph. Read the Acceleration v's Time Graph physics tutorial and build your physics knowledge of Kinematics
3. Kinematics Revision Notes: Acceleration v's Time Graph. Print the notes so you can revise the key points covered in the physics tutorial for Acceleration v's Time Graph
4. Kinematics Practice Questions: Acceleration v's Time Graph. Test and improve your knowledge of Acceleration v's Time Graph with example questins and answers
5. Check your calculations for Kinematics questions with our excellent Kinematics calculators which contain full equations and calculations clearly displayed line by line. See the Kinematics Calculators by iCalculator™ below.
6. Continuing learning kinematics - read our next physics tutorial: Motion in Two Dimensions. Projectile Motion

Help others Learning Physics just like you

Please provide a rating, it takes seconds and helps us to keep this resource free for all to use

We hope you found this Physics lesson "Acceleration v's Time Graph" useful. If you did it would be great if you could spare the time to rate this physics lesson (simply click on the number of stars that match your assessment of this physics learning aide) and/or share on social media, this helps us identify popular tutorials and calculators and expand our free learning resources to support our users around the world have free access to expand their knowledge of physics and other disciplines.

Kinematics Calculators by iCalculator™

• Uniform Motion Calculator
• Uniformerly Accelerated Decelerated Motion Calculator
• Projectile Motion Calculator