Kiihdytyksestä

Kiihdytyksestä, known in English as acceleration, refers to the rate at which an object's velocity changes over time. This change in velocity can involve an increase in speed, a decrease in speed (often called deceleration or retardation), or a change in direction. Acceleration is a vector quantity, meaning it has both magnitude and direction. Its standard unit in the International System of Units (SI) is meters per second squared (m/s²).

In physics, acceleration is directly proportional to the net force acting on an object and inversely proportional to its mass, as described by Newton's second law of motion (F = ma). A constant acceleration means that the velocity changes by the same amount in equal time intervals. For example, an object falling freely under gravity experiences approximately constant acceleration, assuming air resistance is negligible.

Understanding acceleration is fundamental to describing motion. It is used in various fields, including mechanics, kinematics, and engineering, to analyze and predict how objects move. The concept helps in understanding phenomena ranging from the motion of planets to the performance of vehicles.