Difference Between Acceleration and Velocity

Here are some important differences between Acceleration and Velocity,

Characteristics

Acceleration

Velocity

Definition

Acceleration is defined as the rate of change of velocity with respect to time.Velocity is defined as the rate of change of displacement with respect to time.

Symbol

It is usually represented by ‘a’.

It is usually represented by ‘v’.

Direction

Acceleration can be positive or negative, not zero.Velocity can be zero, positive or negative.

SI Unit

The SI unit of Acceleration is m/s2.The SI unit of velocity is m/s.

Formula

The formula for acceleration is,

Acceleration = Velocity / Time 

The formula for velocity is,

Velocity = Displacement /Time 

Example

A car accelerates from an absolute halt to a higher speed.

A car moving at 80 km/h in a eastward direction.

Related Articles,

Acceleration

Acceleration is defined as the rate of change in velocity. This implies that if an object’s velocity is increasing or decreasing, then the object is accelerating. Acceleration has both magnitude and direction, therefore it is a Vector quantity. According to Newton’s Second Law of Motion, acceleration is defined as the ratio of the force applied to the object to the mass of the object. 

Let’s understand more about acceleration and related concepts like Acceleration Formula, its Unit, Types, Graphs, Solved Examples, and FAQs, in this article!

Table of Content

  • What is Acceleration?
  • Acceleration Formula
  • Unit of Acceleration 
  • Types of Acceleration 
  • Difference Between Uniform Acceleration and Non-Uniform Acceleration
  • Velocity-Time Graph
  • Difference Between Acceleration and Velocity
  • Examples on Acceleration

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