What is the formula for acceleration rate?

The formula for acceleration rate is: acceleration (a) = change in velocity (Δv) / time taken (t).

Acceleration is a measure of how quickly an object's velocity changes. In physics, velocity refers to the speed of an object in a specific direction. When an object speeds up, slows down, or changes direction, it is accelerating. The formula for acceleration helps us quantify this change.

To break it down, the change in velocity (Δv) is the difference between the final velocity (v_f) and the initial velocity (v_i) of the object. This can be written as Δv = v_f - v_i. The time taken (t) is the duration over which this change in velocity occurs. Therefore, the formula for acceleration can also be expressed as:

\[ a = \frac{v_f - v_i}{t} \]

For example, if a car speeds up from 10 m/s to 30 m/s over 5 seconds, the change in velocity (Δv) is 30 m/s - 10 m/s = 20 m/s. Using the formula, the acceleration (a) would be:

\[ a = \frac{20 \text{ m/s}}{5 \text{ s}} = 4 \text{ m/s}^2 \]

This means the car's velocity increases by 4 metres per second every second.

Understanding acceleration is crucial in many areas of physics and everyday life, from analysing the motion of vehicles to understanding how forces affect objects. By mastering the formula for acceleration, you can better understand and predict the behaviour of moving objects.