Once students have mastered simple acceleration and velocity vectors (where they move in the same direction), challenge them with situations where the vectors are not in the same direction. Students often find this concept challenging, but it doesn't have to be. In this activity, students will create vector diagrams illustrating the acceleration and velocity in different situations. The suggested scenarios below are in the activity instructions, but you can choose to present students with several additional scenarios to illustrate, such as a car going around a corner or a cannon ball being fired out of a cannon.
The spacecraft moves in a circular path around the Earth. Its velocity vector is constantly changing, even if its speed is constant. The acceleration vector arrow points towards the center of the Earth, in the same way the force due to gravity would act.
The velocity arrow changes as the car slows down. The direction of the arrow remains constant, in the direction the car is moving. The size of the velocity arrow decreases as the car gets slower. The acceleration arrow acts in the opposite direction to the velocity arrow. This is known as negative acceleration or deceleration.
The velocity vector points in the direction of travel and changes as the ball follows its path. The acceleration vector arrow remains constant as the ball is in the air. The arrow points directly downwards towards the Earth.
(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)
Student Instructions
Create acceleration and velocity vector diagrams for different situations.
Engage students by showing real-world motion with simple materials like toy cars, balls, or marbles. Seeing vectors in action helps students connect diagrams to physical movement.
Choose a flat surface and mark start and end points with tape. Having defined boundaries keeps the activity organized and focused.
Attach arrows (made from colored paper or sticky notes) to your moving object for velocity, and place a separate arrow for acceleration. Color coding helps students quickly distinguish the two vectors.
Roll the object in a straight line, slow it down, or turn it to mimic scenarios like a car slowing or a ball being thrown. Pause at intervals to discuss how and why the arrows change.
Challenge students to sketch what they see, labeling velocity and acceleration vectors. Active participation reinforces understanding and builds confidence.
Velocity vectors show the direction and speed of an object's motion, while acceleration vectors indicate how the velocity is changing. Acceleration can change the speed, direction, or both of the velocity.
Draw the velocity vector in the direction the car is moving, and make it shorter as the car slows. The acceleration vector points in the opposite direction, showing negative acceleration or deceleration.
Acceleration and velocity vectors are not always aligned because acceleration can change the direction of velocity, not just its speed. For example, in circular motion, velocity is tangent to the path, but acceleration points toward the center.
In orbit, the velocity vector is tangent to the path, and the acceleration vector always points toward the center of the Earth, keeping the spacecraft in circular motion even if its speed stays constant.
The best way is to use real-life scenarios (like cars, balls, or spacecraft), draw vector diagrams, and have students create visualizations. This helps students see how acceleration and velocity interact in different situations.