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Acceleration Formula:
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Acceleration is the rate of change of velocity of an object with respect to time. It is a vector quantity that describes how quickly an object changes its speed and/or direction of motion.
The calculator uses the acceleration formula:
Where:
Explanation: The formula calculates how much an object's velocity changes per unit time. Positive acceleration indicates speeding up, while negative acceleration (deceleration) indicates slowing down.
Details: Acceleration is fundamental in physics for analyzing motion, designing vehicles and safety systems, understanding planetary motion, and solving real-world problems involving changing velocities.
Tips: Enter initial velocity and final velocity in meters per second (m/s), and time in seconds (s). Time must be greater than zero. All values can be positive or negative depending on direction.
Q1: What's 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 in the positive direction or speeding up in the negative direction.
Q3: What is constant acceleration?
A: Constant acceleration occurs when velocity changes by equal amounts in equal time intervals, like in free-fall motion near Earth's surface.
Q4: How is acceleration related to force?
A: According to Newton's second law (F = m×a), acceleration is directly proportional to the net force applied and inversely proportional to the object's mass.
Q5: What are typical acceleration values?
A: Earth's gravity causes acceleration of about 9.8 m/s² downward. Car accelerations are typically 2-3 m/s², while emergency braking can reach -8 to -10 m/s².