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Quantifying acceleration of body that is changing direction?

So, for example, how would you work out the acceleration of a body that changes from 5 m/s to the right, to 5 m/s in a direction 45 degrees from the first direction, in 1 second?

hope I've explained that in a way that makes sense!
Original post by dire wolf
x


i think you would have to use vectors (haven't really thought about this before so i could be wrong, someone feel free to correct me if i am)

the velocity changes from (0,5) to (3.53, 3.53) in one second
(edited 9 years ago)
Yes it can be done by drawing the vectors.
The acceleration is the change in velocity divided by the time taken.
Draw the vector for initial velocity V1 and then the vector for V2 the final velocity.
The change is V2 - V1 so reverse the direction of V1 and add the two vectors using standard techniques.
Divide by the time taken if the change was uniform.
(edited 9 years ago)
Original post by Arithmeticae
i think you would have to use vectors (haven't really thought about this before so i could be wrong, someone feel free to correct me if i am)

the velocity changes from (0,5) to (3.53, 3.53) in one second


Original post by Stonebridge
Yes it can be done by drawing the vectors.
The acceleration is the change in velocity divided by the time taken.
Draw the vector for initial velocity V1 and then the vector for V2 the final velocity.
The change is V2 - V1 so reverse the direction of V1 and add the two vectors using standard techniques.
Divide by the time taken if the change was uniform.

Alright thank you guys

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