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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 the velocity changes per unit time. Positive acceleration means the object is speeding up, while negative acceleration (deceleration) means it's slowing down.
Details: Acceleration is fundamental in physics and engineering for analyzing motion, designing vehicles and machinery, understanding forces, and solving real-world problems involving moving objects.
Tips: Enter velocities in meters per second (m/s) and time in seconds (s). All values must be valid (time > 0). The calculator will compute acceleration in meters per second squared (m/s²).
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 quickly the velocity is changing.
Q2: Can acceleration be negative?
A: Yes, negative acceleration (deceleration) means an object is slowing down. It's still called acceleration in physics.
Q3: What is constant acceleration?
A: Constant acceleration occurs when an object's velocity changes by the same amount each second. Free-falling objects near Earth's surface experience approximately constant acceleration due to gravity (9.8 m/s²).
Q4: How is acceleration related 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 are typical acceleration values?
A: Car acceleration: 3-4 m/s², Free fall: 9.8 m/s², Space shuttle launch: 29 m/s², Emergency braking: -8 to -10 m/s².