Describe the difference between someone who is accelerating and someone who is only moving at a constant velocity.   A person moving a constant velocity will ‘feel’ how fast they are moving. A person accelerating does not feel the acceleration. A person who is accelerating will ‘feel’ that acceleration, but the person moving at constant velocity will not feel the motion. Both of the above. None of the above.

An Introduction to Physical Science
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Author:James Shipman, Jerry D. Wilson, Charles A. Higgins, Omar Torres
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Chapter2: Motion
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Describe the difference between someone who is accelerating and someone who is only moving at a constant velocity.

 
  1. A person moving a constant velocity will ‘feel’ how fast they are moving. A person accelerating does not feel the acceleration.

  2. A person who is accelerating will ‘feel’ that acceleration, but the person moving at constant velocity will not feel the motion.

  3. Both of the above.

  4. None of the above.

Expert Solution
Introduction

Velocity is defined as rate of change of distance over a period of time. Acceleration is defined as the rate of change of velocity in a period of time.

v¯=ddtx [m/s]

a=ddtv [m/s2]

Here velocity and acceleration are both vector quantities, which means they have both magnitude and direction.

Hence, if you are travelling, covering equal distance in equal intervals of time there would be velocity. This is called as a constant velocity. Since velocity is constant, as differential of any constant is zero, according to the definition, the acceleration is zero. This is a case of an object moving in constant velocity.

Now, when an object changes either its magnitude or direction of velocity in a period of time, there is an acceleration.

Note- If an object is moving with constant velocity(defined as above) but changes its direction, then also acceleration is present. This is because velocity and acceleration are vector quantities. This is a case of an object moving with constant velocity and also accelerating. 

In a nutshell, a person who is accelerating would be changing magnitude of velocities or direction in a period of time  whereas a person moving with constant velocity would cover equal distance in equal intervals of time.

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