Summary
Everybody knows that when you roll down a hill on a skateboard, you pick up speed, going faster and faster until you reach the bottom. But what are the principles behind acceleration, and how is it calculated? In this BrainPOP movie, Tim and Moby walk you through a concept that every student of physics needs to know. You’ll learn how to measure both negative and positive acceleration, with helpful formulas and equations presented in a way that’s easy to grasp. Put on your safety helmet, and let’s get rolling!
Viewer safety
Ages 7+
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Teaching resources
Discussion questions
A few questions to talk through after watching Acceleration:
- What is one new thing you learned about acceleration?
- Can you explain it to a partner in your own words?
- Where might you see this in the real world?
- What is one question you still have?
Quick work-a-long
Try it:
- Write one sentence explaining acceleration.
- Draw or give one example of your own.