1. What is Acceleration?

Acceleration is the rate of change of velocity with respect to time. It is a vector quantity that describes how quickly an object changes its speed and/or direction of motion. Acceleration is measured in meters per second squared (m/s²).

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the acceleration formula:

Where:

• \( a \) — Acceleration (m/s²)
• \( v_f \) — Final velocity (m/s)
• \( v_i \) — Initial velocity (m/s)
• \( t_f \) — Final time (s)
• \( t_i \) — Initial time (s)

Explanation: The formula calculates how much velocity changes per unit time. Positive acceleration means speeding up, negative acceleration (deceleration) means slowing down.

3. Understanding Acceleration Graphs

Details: Acceleration can be visualized on velocity-time graphs. The slope of the velocity-time graph represents acceleration. A steeper slope indicates greater acceleration, while a horizontal line indicates constant velocity (zero acceleration).

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter velocities in m/s and times in seconds. Final time must be greater than initial time for valid calculation. All values must be valid numerical inputs.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What is the difference between acceleration and velocity?
A: Velocity describes how fast an object is moving and in what direction, while acceleration describes how velocity is changing over time.

Q2: Can acceleration be negative?
A: Yes, negative acceleration (deceleration) means an object is slowing down. It's sometimes called retardation.

Q3: What is constant acceleration?
A: Constant acceleration means the rate of change of velocity is steady over time. This produces a straight line on a velocity-time graph.

Q4: How is acceleration related to force?
A: According to Newton's second law, force equals mass times acceleration (F = m × a). Greater force produces greater acceleration for the same mass.

Q5: What are some real-world examples of acceleration?
A: A car speeding up or braking, a ball thrown upward slowing down due to gravity, a roller coaster changing speed and direction on tracks.