Acceleration
Also: linear acceleration
The rate at which velocity changes.
Acceleration is a vector and includes changes in direction even when speed stays constant.
- Units
- metre per second squared (m/s²)
- Formula
a = dv/dt
Example Ramping from 0 to 0.4 m/s in 0.5 s averages 0.8 m/s².
Common misconception Zero speed at an instant does not imply zero acceleration.