Physics quiz question: change in velocity

Physics 5A Quiz 2, Fall Semester 2007
Cuesta College, San Luis Obispo, CA

Cf. Giambattista/Richardson/Richardson, Physics, 1/e, Conceptual Question 2.5

[3.0 points.] The change in (instantaneous) velocity is:
(A) the area under a v_x(t) graph.
(B) the area under an a_x(t) graph.
(C) the tangent slope of an x(t) graph.
(D) the tangent slope of a v_x(t) graph.

Correct answer: (B)
(Cf. "Physics chain of pain," an earlier post summarizing the graphical slope-area relations between kinematics graphs.)

Response (A) is the displacement delta(x); response (C) is the (instantaneous) velocity; response (D) is the (instantaneous) acceleration.

Student responses
Sections 0906, 0907
(A) : 2 students
(B) : 11 students
(C) : 16 students
(D) : 13 students