What is acceleration a measure of?
Category:
science
physics
Acceleration has the dimensions of velocity (L/T) divided by time, i.e. L T−2. The SI unit of acceleration is the metre per second squared (m s−2); or "metre per second per second", as the velocity in metres per second changes by the acceleration value, every second.
Besides, what is acceleration used for?
But in physics, we use the single term acceleration to mean any change in velocity, whether it be speeding up, slowing down, or changing direction. Or, you can think about it this way. In a car you could accelerate by hitting the gas or the brakes, either of which would cause a change in speed.
In respect to this, what is the unit of velocity?
The SI unit of velocity is meter per second (m/s).
Velocity is the rate of change of position with respect to time, whereas acceleration is the rate of change of velocity. Both are vector quantities (and so also have a specified direction), but the units of velocity are meters per second while the units of acceleration are meters per second squared.