Velocity and Acceleration with Examples

Ten vocabulary flashcards summarizing the essential ideas, formulas, units, and examples related to velocity and acceleration.

Velocity

The rate at which an object changes its position; distance traveled per unit of time in a specific direction.

Acceleration

The rate at which an object’s velocity changes over time; can describe speeding up, slowing down, or changing direction.

Constant Velocity

Motion where speed and direction remain unchanged, e.g., an airplane cruising steadily at 850 km/h.

Deceleration (Negative Acceleration)

Acceleration directed opposite to the motion, causing the object’s speed to decrease, such as a motorcycle braking for a speed bump.

Velocity Formula

Velocity = Distance ÷ Time (v = d/t).

Acceleration Formula

Acceleration = (Final Velocity − Initial Velocity) ÷ Time (a = Δv/t).

Units of Velocity

Commonly measured in meters per second (m/s) or kilometers per hour (km/h).

Units of Acceleration

Expressed in meters per second squared (m/s²).

Difference Between Velocity and Acceleration

Velocity tells how fast and in what direction an object moves, whereas acceleration tells how the velocity itself changes over time.

Car Accelerating from a Traffic Light

Example of acceleration: a car starting from rest and increasing its speed every second.