DVA - Distance, Velocity, Acceleration

Warmup 1
a) Determine 𝑓 ′′ (2) for the function 𝑓(𝑥) = 3 𝑥 3 − 𝑥 2 − 3𝑥 + 4.

1
b) Determine the second derivative of 𝑦 = .
𝑥−1

Displacement Velocity Acceleration

Displacement, velocity and acceleration are all VECTORS. All of these quantities have
both magnitude and direction.
Example #1 Falling Objects.

A hammer is accidentally dropped from a height of 90m. The height of the hammer, 𝑠, in
metres, after 𝑡 seconds is modelled by 𝑠(𝑡) = 90 − 4.9𝑡 2 , 𝑡 ≥ 0.

a) Determine the average velocity of the hammer between 1s and 4s.

b) Determine the velocity of the hammer at 4s.

c) When will the hammer hit the ground?

d) Determine the impact velocity of the hammer.

e) Determine the acceleration function. What do you notice? Interpret it for this
situation.

Example #2 Projectiles.

A ball is thrown upwards so that its height above the ground is 𝑠(𝑡) = 24𝑡 − 5𝑡 2 . Height is
in metres and time is in seconds.

a) Determine the initial velocity. b) Determine the maximum height of the ball.

c) Determine the average acceleration between 1s and 3s.

 Example #3 Sketch a graph of v(t) and a(t) given the following graph of s(t).

a) b)