Acceleration in Physics

Acceleration

Definition

• Acceleration is the rate of change of velocity with respect to time.
• It is a measure of how quickly an object's velocity changes.

Units

• The unit of acceleration is meters per second squared (m/s²).
• It can also be expressed in other units such as kilometers per hour squared (km/h²) or feet per second squared (ft/s²).

Types of Acceleration

• Uniform acceleration: acceleration that remains constant over time.
• Non-uniform acceleration: acceleration that changes over time.
• Positive acceleration: acceleration that increases the velocity of an object.
• Negative acceleration: acceleration that decreases the velocity of an object, also known as deceleration.

Acceleration Formulas

• Acceleration formula: a = Δv / Δt, where a is acceleration, Δv is the change in velocity, and Δt is the time over which the change occurs.
• Acceleration due to gravity: a = g, where g is the acceleration due to gravity (approximately 9.8 m/s² on Earth).

Examples and Applications

• Free fall: an object falling under the sole influence of gravity, resulting in a constant acceleration of 9.8 m/s².
• Racing cars: acceleration is crucial for achieving high speeds and quick starts.
• Aircraft: acceleration is necessary for takeoff, landing, and maneuverability.

Key Concepts

• Acceleration is a vector quantity, meaning it has both magnitude and direction.
• Acceleration can be caused by a force, such as friction or gravity.
• The greater the force, the greater the acceleration.

Acceleration

Definition and Measurement

• Acceleration is the rate of change of velocity with respect to time.
• It measures how quickly an object's velocity changes.

Units

• The unit of acceleration is meters per second squared (m/s²).
• Other units include kilometers per hour squared (km/h²) and feet per second squared (ft/s²).

Types

Uniform and Non-Uniform Acceleration

• Uniform acceleration remains constant over time.
• Non-uniform acceleration changes over time.

Positive and Negative Acceleration

• Positive acceleration increases an object's velocity.
• Negative acceleration decreases an object's velocity, also known as deceleration.

Acceleration Formulas

• The acceleration formula is a = Δv / Δt, where a is acceleration, Δv is the change in velocity, and Δt is the time over which the change occurs.
• Acceleration due to gravity is a = g, where g is approximately 9.8 m/s² on Earth.

Examples and Applications

Free Fall and Gravity

• Free fall is an object falling under the sole influence of gravity, resulting in a constant acceleration of 9.8 m/s².
• Acceleration due to gravity is approximately 9.8 m/s² on Earth.

Real-World Applications

• Acceleration is crucial for achieving high speeds and quick starts in racing cars.
• Acceleration is necessary for takeoff, landing, and maneuverability in aircraft.

Key Concepts

Vector Quantity and Force

• Acceleration is a vector quantity, meaning it has both magnitude and direction.
• Acceleration can be caused by a force, such as friction or gravity.
• The greater the force, the greater the acceleration.

Grammar: Relative Pronouns

• The sentence describes a situation where children's parents had an accident and as a result, the children received a scholarship.
• The correct answer is D. whose, which is a possessive relative pronoun indicating that the parents belong to the children.
• The sentence structure implies a relationship between the children and their parents, making whose the correct choice.
• The other options, who, which, and whom, do not fit the context and grammatical structure of the sentence.

Measure the rate of change of velocity with respect to time. Learn about units, types of acceleration and more.