Here's a breakdown:
* Velocity: Velocity describes how fast an object is moving *and* in what direction. It's a vector quantity, meaning it has both magnitude (speed) and direction.
* Acceleration: Acceleration is the change in velocity over time. It's also a vector quantity, meaning it has both magnitude and direction.
Key points about acceleration:
* Positive acceleration: Means the object is speeding up.
* Negative acceleration: Means the object is slowing down (also called deceleration).
* Zero acceleration: Means the object is moving at a constant velocity (not changing speed or direction).
Formula for acceleration:
```
Acceleration (a) = (Change in velocity (Δv)) / (Change in time (Δt))
```
Example:
Imagine a car starting from rest and accelerating to 60 mph in 10 seconds.
* Initial velocity (v1) = 0 mph
* Final velocity (v2) = 60 mph
* Change in velocity (Δv) = 60 mph - 0 mph = 60 mph
* Time (Δt) = 10 seconds
Therefore, the car's acceleration is:
* a = (60 mph) / (10 seconds) = 6 mph/s
This means the car's velocity increases by 6 mph every second.
