What is Acceleration? Definition, Meaning & Example
The rate of change of velocity with respect to time.
TL;DR: The rate of change of velocity with respect to time.
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Acceleration: The rate of change of velocity with respect to time.
Explanation
Acceleration occurs whenever an object's velocity changes, whether it speeds up, slows down, or changes direction. The SI unit is meters per second squared. Acceleration is a vector quantity with both magnitude and direction. When you press the accelerator in a car, you increase acceleration; when you press the brake, you have negative acceleration or deceleration. Gravity causes a constant acceleration of 9.8 meters per second squared on objects falling toward Earth.
Example
A car starting from rest and reaching 60 km/h in 5 seconds has an acceleration. If it then maintains 60 km/h for the next 10 seconds, its acceleration is zero during that period.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is deceleration different from negative acceleration?
No, deceleration and negative acceleration mean the same thing: the velocity is decreasing, usually when an object slows down.
What causes acceleration according to Newton's laws?
Force causes acceleration; the greater the force applied to an object, the greater its acceleration, as stated in Newton's Second Law: F = ma.
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