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Newton's Second Law:
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Acceleration is the rate of change of velocity of an object with respect to time. It is a vector quantity that describes how quickly an object speeds up, slows down, or changes direction. According to Newton's Second Law of Motion, acceleration is directly proportional to the net force acting on an object and inversely proportional to its mass.
The calculator uses Newton's Second Law:
Where:
Explanation: The greater the force applied to an object, the greater its acceleration will be. Conversely, the greater the mass of an object, the smaller its acceleration will be for the same amount of force.
Details: Calculating acceleration is fundamental in physics and engineering for understanding motion, designing vehicles and machinery, analyzing sports performance, and solving real-world problems involving moving objects.
Tips: Enter force in newtons (N) and mass in kilograms (kg). Both values must be positive numbers greater than zero. The calculator will compute the acceleration in meters per second squared (m/s²).
Q1: What is the difference between acceleration and velocity?
A: Velocity is the rate of change of position, while acceleration is the rate of change of velocity. Acceleration tells you how quickly velocity is changing.
Q2: Can acceleration be negative?
A: Yes, negative acceleration (deceleration) occurs when an object slows down. The direction of acceleration depends on the direction of the net force.
Q3: What are typical acceleration values?
A: Earth's gravity causes acceleration of 9.8 m/s². Cars accelerate at 3-8 m/s², while rockets can exceed 20 m/s² during launch.
Q4: How does mass affect acceleration?
A: For the same force, heavier objects accelerate less than lighter objects. This is why it's harder to push a heavy object than a light one.
Q5: What is instantaneous acceleration?
A: Instantaneous acceleration is the acceleration at a specific moment in time, calculated as the derivative of velocity with respect to time.