Final answer:
Acceleration in physics refers to the rate at which velocity changes, owing to changes in speed, direction, or both, and is measured in meters per second squared.
Step-by-step explanation:
Acceleration is commonly associated with motion in physics, and it represents the rate at which velocity changes. This can happen through changes in the speed of the object, the direction of the object's movement, or both. The SI unit for acceleration is meters per second squared (m/s2).
For example, when a car starts moving from a stop and increases its speed, it is accelerating. Similarly, if a person stands up from a seated position, the person's velocity changes from zero to a new value, this is also considered acceleration.
Examples of Acceleration
- A person standing up from a seated position.
- A car increasing its speed as it drives.
Overall, acceleration is a vector quantity, meaning it has both magnitude and direction, and is one of the fundamental concepts in Newton's laws of motion.