Beschleunigungspotenzials

Beschleunigung is the German word for acceleration. In physics, acceleration is the rate at which an object's velocity changes over time. Velocity is a vector quantity, meaning it has both magnitude (speed) and direction. Therefore, acceleration occurs not only when an object speeds up or slows down, but also when its direction of motion changes.

The standard unit of acceleration in the International System of Units (SI) is meters per second squared (m/s²). Mathematically, average acceleration is calculated by dividing the change in velocity by the time interval over which that change occurs: a = Δv / Δt. Instantaneous acceleration is the limit of this ratio as the time interval approaches zero, representing the acceleration at a specific moment in time.

Acceleration can be positive, negative, or zero. Positive acceleration means the velocity is increasing in the direction of motion. Negative acceleration, often called deceleration, means the velocity is decreasing. Zero acceleration indicates that the velocity is constant, meaning the object is either at rest or moving at a constant speed in a straight line. Examples include a car increasing its speed, a ball thrown upwards slowing down as it reaches its peak, or a satellite orbiting the Earth, which is constantly accelerating towards the Earth due to gravity, causing its direction to change.