If the acceleration of a particle remains constant, it means that the particle is experiencing uniform or constant acceleration. In this scenario, several notable things occur:
Linear Motion: The particle undergoes linear motion with a constant change in velocity over time. This means that the particle's velocity increases or decreases by the same amount every second.
Constant Velocity Change: The rate of change of velocity (acceleration) remains the same throughout the particle's motion. It implies that the particle's speed changes by a fixed amount per unit time.
Straight-Line Trajectory: The particle follows a straight-line trajectory. The direction of its velocity may change, but the path remains linear.
Equations of Motion: The particle's motion can be described using the equations of motion for uniformly accelerated linear motion. These equations include the following:
- v = u + at: Final velocity (v) is equal to initial velocity (u) plus the product of acceleration (a) and time (t).
- s = ut + (1/2)at^2: Displacement (s) is equal to initial velocity (u) multiplied by time (t), plus one-half times acceleration (a) multiplied by the square of time (t).
- v^2 = u^2 + 2as: Final velocity (v) squared is equal to initial velocity (u) squared plus twice acceleration (a) times displacement (s).
These equations allow for the calculation of various parameters, such as final velocity, displacement, or time, given the initial conditions and constant acceleration.
In summary, when the acceleration of a particle remains constant, it undergoes linear motion with a constant change in velocity over time, follows a straight-line trajectory, and can be described using the equations of motion for uniformly accelerated linear motion.