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 speeds up, slows down, or changes direction.
The calculator uses the acceleration formula:
Where:
Explanation: This 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 calculations are fundamental in physics, engineering, and everyday applications. They help in understanding motion, designing vehicles and machinery, analyzing sports performance, and ensuring safety in transportation systems.
Tips: Enter final velocity and initial 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 is the difference between acceleration and velocity?
A: Velocity describes how fast an object is moving and in what direction, while acceleration describes how quickly the velocity is changing.
Q2: Can acceleration be negative?
A: Yes, negative acceleration (deceleration) occurs when an object is slowing down or changing direction opposite to its current motion.
Q3: What are the SI units for acceleration?
A: The SI unit for acceleration is meters per second squared (m/s²).
Q4: How does acceleration relate to force?
A: According to Newton's second law, force equals mass times acceleration (F = m × a). Acceleration is directly proportional to the net force applied to an object.
Q5: What is constant acceleration?
A: Constant acceleration occurs when an object's velocity changes by equal amounts in equal time intervals. Free-falling objects near Earth's surface experience approximately constant acceleration due to gravity (9.8 m/s² downward).