🧭Velocity vs Acceleration🚀
Velocity and acceleration are linked but distinct. One describes motion itself; the other describes how that motion is changing.
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🧭Velocity
- ✓Describes the rate of change of position
- ✓Measured in meters per second (m/s)
- ✓A vector with magnitude and direction
- ✓Constant velocity means no acceleration
- ✓Equal to displacement divided by time
🚀Acceleration
- ✓Describes the rate of change of velocity
- ✓Measured in meters per second squared (m/s²)
- ✓A vector that can speed up, slow down or turn motion
- ✓Zero acceleration means constant velocity
- ✓Linked to net force by Newton's second law
Verdict
Velocity tells you the current state of motion; acceleration tells you how it is changing. A car at steady speed has velocity but zero acceleration; pressing the pedal creates acceleration.
Frequently asked
Can an object accelerate without changing speed?+
Yes. Changing direction is acceleration. A car turning at constant speed is still accelerating.
What does negative acceleration mean?+
It usually means slowing down (deceleration), or speeding up in the negative direction.
How is acceleration related to force?+
Newton's second law states force equals mass times acceleration, so any net force produces acceleration.
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