Here's a breakdown:
* Change in velocity: This is the difference between the object's initial velocity (how fast it was moving at the start) and its final velocity (how fast it's moving at the end).
* Time: This is the duration over which the change in velocity occurs.
Formula:
Acceleration (a) = (Final velocity (vf) - Initial velocity (vi)) / Time (t)
Example:
Imagine a car starts from rest (initial velocity = 0 m/s) and accelerates to a speed of 20 m/s in 5 seconds.
* Change in velocity = 20 m/s - 0 m/s = 20 m/s
* Time = 5 seconds
Acceleration = 20 m/s / 5 s = 4 m/s²
This means the car is accelerating at a rate of 4 meters per second squared.
Key points about acceleration:
* Acceleration is a vector quantity, meaning it has both magnitude (how much) and direction.
* Positive acceleration means the object is speeding up.
* Negative acceleration (also known as deceleration) means the object is slowing down.
* If an object moves at a constant velocity, its acceleration is zero.
