decelerated

Decelerated is the past participle and adjective form of the verb decelerate, describing the act of decreasing speed or the condition of having reduced velocity. It can refer to motion that has slowed down, or to processes whose rate of change has diminished.

In physics, deceleration is the rate at which velocity decreases over time. It is a form of negative acceleration with respect to the direction of motion. If velocity decreases at a constant rate, the motion is described as undergoing uniform deceleration. Kinematic equations relate velocity, acceleration, and displacement, such as v = v0 + a t and d = v0 t + 1/2 a t^2, where a is negative for deceleration, or v^2 = v0^2 + 2 a d.

In everyday language, decelerated motion is commonly encountered in braking a vehicle, where friction or braking systems reduce speed. The term also appears in contexts such as decelerated growth or development, indicating a slower rate of change than previously observed. In engineering, controlled deceleration is designed to minimize abruptness and enhance safety, using mechanisms like braking systems, aerodynamic drag, or regenerative braking.

Etymology: from French decelerer, from Latin decelerare, formed from de- (down, away) + celer (swift).

See also: deceleration, braking, retardation, slowing, negative acceleration.