Basic concept of Acceleration and Velocity
The difference between acceleration and velocity is a basic concept in physics that is often confusing. Here is a simple explanation.
Velocity
- Definition: Velocity is how fast and in what direction an object moves.
- Unit: meters per second (m/s)
- Example: A car moves east at 60 km/h.
Velocity = Change in position / Time
Acceleration
- Definition: Acceleration is how fast the velocity changes (either increasing or decreasing).
- Unit: meters per second squared (m/s²)
- Example: If a car goes from 0 to 60 km/h in 5 seconds, it is accelerating.
Acceleration = Change in velocity / Time
Simple Comparison
| Concept | Velocity | Acceleration |
|---|---|---|
| What it measures | Rate of change of position | Rate of change of velocity |
| Direction | Yes (direction matters) | Yes (direction also matters) |
| Example | A car moving at 60 km/h | A car speeding up from 0 to 60 km/h in 5 s |
Quick Illustration
Imagine you’re riding a bicycle:
- When you’re moving straight at a steady 10 m/s → that’s velocity.
- When you pedal harder and your speed increases from 10 m/s to 15 m/s → that’s acceleration.