Acceleration (Instantaneous) Formula
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\( a \;=\; \dfrac{ dv }{ dt } \) (Acceleration) \( dv \;=\; a \cdot dt \) \( dt \;=\; \dfrac{ dv }{ a } \) |
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| Symbol | English | Metric |
| \( a \) = Acceleration | \(ft \;/\; sec^2\) | \(m \;/\; s^2\) |
| \( dv \) = Derivative of Velocity | \(ft \;/\; sec\) | \(m \;/\; s\) |
| \( dt \) = Derivative of Time | \(sec\) | \(s\) |
Acceleration, abbreviated as a, also called instantaneous acceleration, is the rate of change of velocity with time. Like velocity, this is a vector quantity that has a direction as well as a magnitude. Whenever a mass experiences a force, an acceleration is acting. An increase in velocity is commonly called acceleration while a decrease in velocity is deceleration.
- See Article - Acceleration Conversion
Acceleration is a vector quantity having magnitude and direction, some of these include displacement, drag, force, lift, momentum, thrust, torque, velocity and weight.
Acceleration Types
Angular Acceleration - An object is the rate at which the angle velocity changes with respect to time.
Centripetal Acceleration - The change in the velocity, which is a vector, either in speed or direction as an object makes its way around a circular path.
Constant Acceleration - An object is the constant rate in a straight line at which the velocity changes with respect to time.
Instantaneous Acceleration - The acceleration at a particular moment in time along its path.
Linear Acceleration - The change in linear velocity of an object in a straight line.
Tangential Acceleration - How much the tangential velocity of a point at a radius changes with time.
Uniform Acceleration - When an object is traveling in a straight line with a uniform increase in velocity at equal intervals of time.
Non-uniform Acceleration - When an object is traveling with a uniform increase in velocity but not at equal intervals of time.
