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Acceleration Formula:
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Acceleration is the rate of change of velocity with respect to time. It measures how quickly an object's velocity is changing, either in magnitude or direction. Acceleration is a vector quantity with both magnitude and direction.
The calculator uses the acceleration formula:
Where:
Explanation: This formula calculates the average acceleration over a given time interval by dividing the change in velocity by the change in time.
Details: Acceleration calculations are fundamental in physics and engineering for analyzing motion, designing vehicles and machinery, understanding forces, and solving real-world problems involving changing velocities.
Tips: Enter the change in velocity in meters per second (m/s) and the change in time in seconds (s). The time value must be greater than zero. The calculator will compute the acceleration in meters per second squared (m/s²).
Q1: What is the difference between acceleration and velocity?
A: Velocity measures how fast an object is moving and in what direction, while acceleration measures 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 motion.
Q3: What are some common units for acceleration?
A: The SI unit is meters per second squared (m/s²). Other units include feet per second squared (ft/s²) and gravitational units (g).
Q4: How does acceleration relate to force?
A: According to Newton's second law, force equals mass times acceleration (F = ma), so acceleration is directly proportional to the net force applied.
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.