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The calculus chain

The calculus chain

Diagram linking displacement s(t), velocity v(t), and acceleration a(t) with differentiation arrows forwards and integration arrows backwards

In constant acceleration questions you could use SUVAT, but with variable acceleration the acceleration changes with time, so SUVAT usually does not apply. Instead, calculus links displacement, velocity and acceleration.

Variable Acceleration Lesson

  1. A Level
  2. /Maths
  3. /Variable Acceleration

Step-by-step lessons covering Edexcel A Level Maths Variable Acceleration for A Level Maths. Each lesson breaks down 11.1 Functions of Time, 11.2 Using Differentiation, 11.3 Maxima and Minima Problems, 11.4 Using Integration, and 11.5 Constant Acceleration Formulae, then works through exam-style questions in Paper 1, Paper 2 and Paper 3 format. Build fluency with the core pure algebra and calculus toolkit early, since almost every mechanics and statistics topic on the course depends on it.

Lessons