Concept in Definition ABC

In the language current we say that an acceleration has occurred when there is an increase in the velocity. Thus, a runner who changes pace to catch up with an opponent who is ahead is accelerating. Obviously, if there is a gradual decrease in speed, there is a deceleration. Although the word also allows us to refer to the vector magnitude that expresses said speed increase in a Unit of time. Meanwhile, the acceleration may be negative, then, in this case, the magnitude will express a decrease in speed as a function of time.

In colloquial terms we can be imprecise when talking about speed and acceleration and this circumstance does not affect the efficiency in the communication. However, in the realm of physics both concepts are very precise.

Velocity is a vector concept that indicates the speed of movement and, at the same time, the direction and the meaning. In this way, to establish the speed of an object it is necessary to start from a point on a coordinate axis. In most physical problems, average speed or instantaneous speed is measured.

The idea of ​​acceleration in physical terms is similar to that used in everyday language. Thus, when the speed increases, there is a positive acceleration and when the speed decreases the acceleration is negative. Therefore, acceleration can be defined as the change in velocity. Consequently, acceleration does not mean that a movement is fast, but its true meaning refers to the variation of the speed in a time interval. In this way, if the speed of a vehicle remains constant, the acceleration is zero.

Acceleration types

Although acceleration is the variation in speed, there are different types: tangential, normal or centripetal. Acceleration is, like velocity, a vector quantity. This means that in addition to knowing its numerical value, it is also necessary to know its direction and meaning. Is dimension Vector is present in tangential acceleration and in centripetal acceleration. The first refers to the variation in speed in its numerical value and the second is responsible for changes in the direction of speed and, therefore, in its trajectory.

If a car it moves in a straight line and its speed increases, it is a tangential acceleration. If a car goes around a circular square, its direction changes at all times and consequently there is a centripetal acceleration. In physics the two types of acceleration have a different mathematical formulation.