Vector nature of velocity and acceleration
What Vector nature of velocity and acceleration means in Physics A-Level, as defined for AQA, OCR.
Definitions of Vector nature of velocity and acceleration
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Reference: OCR
Because velocity is a vector, its direction changes continuously, so the body accelerates even though its speed is constant.
Velocity is a vector, so changing direction at constant speed changes velocity and therefore produces acceleration.
Topics that use Vector nature of velocity and acceleration
- Circular motion (A-level only) (AQA A-Level)
- Centripetal force (OCR A-Level)
Related terms
- Centripetal acceleration
- Centripetal force
- Difference between speed and velocity
- Newton's first law and inertia
- Relationship between linear and angular quantities
- Rigid-body rotation
- Centripetal acceleration magnitude and direction
- Constant speed in circular motion
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