Acceleration is a measure of the rate at which an object's velocity changes over time. It is a vector quantity, meaning it has both magnitude and direction. It is calculated by dividing the change in an object's velocity by the time it takes for that change to occur.
Acceleration and velocity are closely related, as acceleration is the rate of change of velocity. This means that when an object's acceleration changes, its velocity will also change. For example, if an object is accelerating in a straight line, its velocity will either increase or decrease depending on the direction of the acceleration.
Average acceleration is the change in an object's velocity over a specific time interval, while instantaneous acceleration is the acceleration at a specific moment in time. Average acceleration can be calculated by dividing the change in velocity by the time interval, while instantaneous acceleration can be found by taking the derivative of the velocity with respect to time.
Acceleration can be affected by a variety of factors, including the force applied to an object, the mass of the object, and any external forces acting on the object (such as friction or air resistance). Additionally, the direction of acceleration can also be influenced by the direction of the applied force.
Acceleration can be represented on a graph by plotting an object's velocity over time. The slope of the line on the graph represents the object's acceleration, with a steeper slope indicating a higher acceleration. The area under the curve on a velocity-time graph also represents the object's change in velocity, and therefore, its acceleration.