Spirituality, Quantum Physics & Life: Acceleration

In nature, we see that if something moves, it changes its location. It takes some time to complete that movement. So the change in location over a time is defined as speed (or, its rate of change). If the thing is moving in a particular direction then the speed is defined as velocity.

Mathematically,

Velocity (v) = $\frac{distance (x)}{time (t)} $

Velocity is the rate (or speed) an object is moving from A to B over a measurable time.

It's not possible to maintain a constant speed for a very long time. At some point, the speed will increase (or, decrease) or change the direction of motion. All of these changes take place over a time, which are in the form of acceleration.

Mathematically,

Acceleration (a) = $\frac{velocity (v)}{time (t)} = \frac{distance (x)}{time (t)\; * \;time (t)}$

Acceleration is the rate (or speed) at which an object is increasing or decreasing its velocity over a measurable time.

For example: Firstly, we notice that the object change its original position with the certain motion. In the first second, it moved at a speed of 1 meter per second. But after ten seconds, the object travels 2 meters per second. So in 10 seconds, it's speed has increased by 1 meter per second. This is called acceleration.

Finally, let's try to explain this concept in a scientific point of view:

Acceleration as doing two things at once. "We are still moving across a distance over a time, but we are also increasing how fast we are doing it." We are multi-tasking to arrive sooner. So, time is repeated twice in the unit of acceleration.

Hence, time appears twice: once to describe the rate at which position is changing (i.e. the speed) and once to describe the rate at which the speed is changing.

E1.3 Kinematics (Acceleration):

If an object is moving with changing velocity (either increasing or decreasing), the body is said to be in accelerated motion.

Where, V = Final Velocity, U = Initial Velocity and t = Time taken

Acceleration: In Physics, the rate of change of velocity of an object with respect to time. It is a vector quantity. It's unit is $m/s^2$. To calculated net force is equal to the product of the object's mass and it's acceleration, as described by Newton's Second Law (i.e. $ F$ = $ma$, Where, F = Force, m = Mass and a = Acceleration).

For example: When a car starts from a rest (zero relative velocity) and travels in a straight line at increasing speeds. It is accelerating in the direction of travel called Positive acceleration. If the speed of the car decreases, this is an acceleration in the opposite direction from the direction of the car, it is called the negative acceleration (deceleration).

i) Average Acceleration: Ratio of total change in velocity to the total time interval. This is independent of the velocities at different points of the path but depends only on the velocities at time $t_1$ and $t_2$.

i.e. $a_{av}$ = $\frac {v_2 - v_1}{t_2 - t_1}$

ii) Instantaneous Acceleration: Acceleration is calculated for that particular point of the path of motion at the instant. This gives instantaneous acceleration. And is give by:

Instantaneous Acceleraton ($a$) = $\lim_{\Delta t \rightarrow 0} \frac{\Delta v}{\Delta t}$

This instantaneous acceleration is also called 'acceleration'. It is a vector quantity ($m/s^2$).

Types of Acceleration:

i) Positive Acceleration: Velocity goes on increasing, acceleration is Positive. In +ve acceleration direction of acceleration is in the direction of velocity.

ii) Negative Acceleration: When velocity goes on decreasing, acceleration is negative. It is also called deceleration (retardation). Direction of velocity is opposite to the acceleration direction.

iii) Zero Acceleration: It is also called Uniform velocity. When velocity does not change and remain uniform thus there is no acceleration.

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