Meters Per Second Per Second Is a Unit of What?

Acceleration

Meters per second per second (m/s²) is a unit of acceleration. Acceleration is the rate of change of velocity with respect to time. In other words, it is the rate at which an object's velocity is increasing or decreasing.

Everyday Examples of Acceleration

We experience acceleration every day, even when we are not aware of it. For example, when we start walking, our velocity increases from zero to some positive value. This increase in velocity is caused by the acceleration due to gravity.

Another example of acceleration is when we stop walking. Our velocity decreases from some positive value to zero. This decrease in velocity is caused by the acceleration due to friction.

Units of Acceleration

The SI unit of acceleration is meters per second per second (m/s²). Other units of acceleration include:

• kilometers per hour per second (km/h/s)
• miles per hour per second (mph/s)
• feet per second per second (ft/s²)
• inches per second per second (in/s²)

Applications of Acceleration

Acceleration is an important concept in physics. It is used in a wide variety of applications, including:

• Automotive engineering - Acceleration is used to calculate the performance of cars and other vehicles.
• Aerospace engineering - Acceleration is used to calculate the performance of airplanes and other aircraft.
• Robotics - Acceleration is used to control the movement of robots.
• Sports science - Acceleration is used to measure the performance of athletes.

Conclusion

Acceleration is a fundamental concept in physics. It is used in a wide variety of applications, from automotive engineering to sports science. The SI unit of acceleration is meters per second per second (m/s²).

Additional Information

• The acceleration due to gravity on Earth is approximately 9.8 m/s².
• The acceleration of a car going from 0 to 60 mph in 5 seconds is approximately 2.6 m/s².
• The acceleration of an airplane taking off is approximately 3 m/s².
• The acceleration of a runner sprinting at full speed is approximately 5 m/s².

FAQs

What is the difference between velocity and acceleration?

Velocity is the rate of change of position with respect to time. Acceleration is the rate of change of velocity with respect to time.

What are the units of acceleration?

The SI unit of acceleration is meters per second per second (m/s²). Other units of acceleration include kilometers per hour per second (km/h/s), miles per hour per second (mph/s), feet per second per second (ft/s²), and inches per second per second (in/s²).

What are some applications of acceleration?

Acceleration is used in a wide variety of applications, including automotive engineering, aerospace engineering, robotics, and sports science.

Related Articles

• Velocity
• Acceleration
• Units of acceleration
• Applications of acceleration