Acceleration Formula:
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Acceleration is defined as the rate of change of velocity with respect to time. The formula calculates how quickly an object's velocity is changing, whether it's speeding up, slowing down, or changing direction.
The calculator uses the acceleration formula:
Where:
Explanation: Acceleration is calculated by dividing the change in velocity by the change in time over which that velocity change occurred.
Details: Calculating acceleration is fundamental in physics and engineering for understanding motion, designing vehicles and machinery, analyzing sports performance, and studying celestial mechanics.
Tips: Enter the change in velocity in meters per second (m/s) and the time interval in seconds (s). The time value must be greater than zero.
Q1: What is negative acceleration?
A: Negative acceleration (deceleration) occurs when an object is slowing down. The velocity change is negative while time is positive, resulting in a negative acceleration value.
Q2: How is acceleration different from velocity?
A: Velocity measures how fast an object is moving and in what direction, while acceleration measures how quickly the velocity is changing.
Q3: What are the units of acceleration?
A: In the SI system, acceleration is measured in meters per second squared (m/s²). Other units include cm/s², ft/s², or g-forces.
Q4: Can acceleration be constant?
A: Yes, constant acceleration occurs when velocity changes at a constant rate over time, such as in free-fall motion near Earth's surface.
Q5: What is instantaneous acceleration?
A: Instantaneous acceleration is the acceleration at a specific moment in time, calculated as the derivative of velocity with respect to time.