Acceleration is the rate at which an object changes its velocity. It can occur when an object speeds up, slows down, or changes direction. The formula for acceleration is:
Acceleration is a vector quantity, which means it has both magnitude and direction. This means that an object can accelerate by changing its speed, its direction, or both. Acceleration is measured in units of distance per time squared, such as meters per second squared (m/s^2).
Types of Acceleration
There are several types of acceleration:
Positive Acceleration: This occurs when an object's velocity increases over time, such as when a car speeds up.
Negative Acceleration (Deceleration): This occurs when an object's velocity decreases over time, such as when a car slows down or comes to a stop.
Uniform Acceleration: This occurs when an object's velocitychanges by the same amount in each equal time period.
Non-uniform Acceleration: This occurs when an object's velocitychanges by different amounts in each equal time period.
Factors Affecting Acceleration
Several factors can affect the acceleration of an object: