Fooling the senses: Why do we feel acceleration but not speed?

Physics classes can pose intriguing questions, especially if you’re among several freshmen trying to understand what physics really is. I remember one particular question: If the speed is constant and acceleration is zero, will I be injured if a bus hits me under these conditions?

The accusatory looks did not wait for the question to be asked. But doesn’t this almost “childish” questioning contain something we all feel but don’t dare to ask?

There is another common question that is often ignored when said out loud: Why don’t we feel speed, only acceleration? You will get your answer today.

Wait, let’s speed up

A. velocity and acceleration are closely linkedBut while one has a balanced situation that is almost imperceptible to our senses, the other is what saves us from this impasse.

Velocity is a vector quantity that has magnitude, direction, and direction. It measures the time-dependent displacement profile of an object. This is why speedometers and other devices provide us with a reading in meters per second, kilometers per hour, or other standardly used units of measurement.

Acceleration measures the change in speed over a period of time. AndThe key word here is variation. If we recall, Newton’s first law talks about inertia and the tendency of an object to remain at rest or move in uniform linear motion until a force forces it to change its state.

When when a car is accelerated or braked we change its speedIt imparts a force that causes the object to become unstable and change its state.

Our body tends to continue moving due to inertia, as it is the vehicle that bears the pain of the movement. Other forces come into play here, such as friction, which helps prevent you from skidding and being thrown forward when the car is braked.

After this moment of change, we do not feel the speed because Our body enters a state of balance in movementIf we are in a closed vehicle, we only realize we are moving when there are changes or when we look out the window.

Based on cars and planes, we can explain why we do not feel the movement of the Earth with a similar effect. Calculations only need to be adjusted for curved orbits.

Coming to the initial question, the answer also covers the concepts of acceleration, velocity and inertia. An acceleration equal to zero does not mean a speed equal to zero, but rather a continuous increase or decrease. If you’re hit by inertia, you’ll follow a painful path.

Did you like the content and want to learn a little more about the world of physics? Take the opportunity to understand what it would be like to see the world if we moved at the speed of light, and let us know on our social networks what science-related questions and curiosities you would like to see on TecMundo!