Difference Between Velocity and Acceleration
What will happen when you kick a small empty plastic bottle lying by the side of the road? Well, it’ll fly off in the direction you kicked it. It moves from point A to point B, all because you made a single effort.
The smallest particle known to man is known as an atom. When any external force is applied on it, it is forced to move in a way that causes a reaction. This, by the way, brings to mind Newton’s first law; “an object remains in its state unless compelled by an external force to change”.
Speaking of motion, we’ll compare and contrast acceleration and velocity in order to be able to properly judge their influence on motion. These terms are used whenever we talk about motion. They help to explain how motion works.
Generally, we will be discussing the difference between acceleration and velocity, and also answer the question “what is the relationship between velocity and acceleration?” So, here it is.
Definition of Velocity
This is a measure of the adjustment of the position of an object in a direction with respect to time. When you walk at a consistent pace, you’re said to be moving at a specific speed towards a certain bearing. The same is true for any moving object or body. When it is moving, it is said to have a precise speed and a certain direction.
Here are some important notes to help distinguish between velocity and acceleration
- Formula = d/t
- Quantity = vector
- Unit or measurement = m/s
- Types = change, constant, instant, terminal, etc.
Definition of Acceleration
While you are walking, you can decide to walk faster or to slow down. This means your speed is not uniform. The same applies to drivers. As a matter of fact, vehicles are equipped with a control knob known as the accelerator or gas pedal, which is used to make the car go faster or to maintain constant speed while climbing a hill.
To answer the question – “what is the difference between acceleration and velocity?”, acceleration is simply the change in speed over time.
Here are some notes to help tell the difference between velocity and acceleration
- Formula = v/t
- Quantity = vector
- Unit = m/s2 (or m/s-2 which applies to negative acceleration; i.e. when it is necessary to slow down, for instance, instead of accelerating its movement)
- Types = uniform and non-uniform
Velocity vs Acceleration Comparison Table
Here is a tabulated answer to the question “what is the difference between velocity and acceleration?”
| Basis of Comparison | Velocity | Acceleration |
| Definition | The rate of displacement of the position of an object in a defined path with respect to time | The rate of change of speed as a function of time |
| Formula | d/t | v/t |
| Unit | m/s | m/s2 (or m/s-2 for negative velocity) |
| Dependency | Depends on the pace of the object in which is expected to be constant | Depends on the playing speed of the object which may vary from time to time |
Conclusion of the Main Difference Between Velocity vs Acceleration
Finally, “what is the difference between velocity and acceleration?” Although both of them are vector quantities, their speed consistence varies. With velocity, the speed is the same in a given period of time, whereas with acceleration, the speed increases in a given period of time.
