Unit Two: Velocity

 
One of the three graphing rules is that "the slope of a position vs. time graph is velocity". In physics we use position vs. time to calculate an objects velocity using the distance traveled from the starting point over a period of time the object took to get from its origin to its current point/distance. The mathematical equation for the slope is V = d/t (V is velocity, d is the distance traveled, t is the period of time, in seconds, it took to reach that distance/position from the origin). Velocity is something we experience everyday either in the car, surfing or riding a seriously intense, "make you want to puke your guts out" ride at the Punahou Carnival. One ride, I think most people will agree with, is The Zipper. When we ride The Zipper, we are moving at a rate of 7.5 RPM (sorry I couldn't find how long the cable was so I couldn't calculate the distance or the time without having to include the revolutions). 7.5 RPM is the constant velocity of The Zipper after all the cars are filled and the ride starts. Once the Zipper starts, the cars rotate between 1 to 1.25 minutes in one direction. After the time period the ride stops for a second or two than starts moving again, the initial velocity is slower but gradually rises to the same velocity as before and period of time but in a different direction. So the drawing above is of The Zipper and next to the drawing is the variables V, d, and t, and the velocity.

Here are the variables, if you can't read it, it goes:

V=d/t

V=7.5RPM

d=18.75 revolutions

t=2.5 minutes