Acceleration

Acceleration is the rate at which an object's velocity changes over time. It can be either an increase or decrease in speed, or a change in direction. The formula for acceleration is: acceleration (a) = change in velocity (v) / time (t).

Types of Acceleration

1. Positive Acceleration: This occurs when an object's velocity is increasing over time.
2. Negative Acceleration (Deceleration): This occurs when an object's velocity is decreasing over time.
3. Change in Direction: When an object changes its direction, it is also experiencing acceleration, even if its speed remains constant.

Units of Acceleration

The standard unit of acceleration is meters per second squared (m/s²).

Calculating Acceleration

To calculate acceleration, you can use the formula: a = (v_f - v_i) / t, where a is acceleration, v_f is the final velocity, v_i is the initial velocity, and t is the time taken.

Examples of Acceleration

• When a car speeds up, it experiences positive acceleration.
• When a car slows down to stop at a traffic light, it experiences negative acceleration (deceleration).
• When a car turns a corner, it changes direction and experiences acceleration, even if its speed remains constant.

Study Guide for Acceleration

When studying acceleration, it's important to understand the following key points:

1. Definition of acceleration and its formula.
2. Different types of acceleration: positive, negative, and change in direction.
3. Units of acceleration: meters per second squared (m/s²).
4. How to calculate acceleration using the formula: a = (v_f - v_i) / t.
5. Real-life examples of acceleration, such as car motion.