- #1
MoMo
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Could someone please explain what the difference is between speed and acceleration? I would sincerely appreciate it, thanks!Speed vs Acceleration: What's the Difference?
- Context: High School
- Thread starter MoMo
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Discussion Overview
The discussion revolves around the differences between speed and acceleration, including their definitions and how they relate to concepts like velocity, particularly in the context of a car's motion. The scope includes conceptual clarification and technical explanation.
Discussion Character
- Conceptual clarification, Technical explanation
Main Points Raised
- Some participants define speed as a scalar quantity that indicates how fast an object is moving.
- Others define acceleration as a vector quantity representing the rate of change of velocity.
- Velocity is introduced as a vector quantity that describes the rate at which an object changes its position, calculated from the displacement/time ratio.
- One participant expresses confusion about how speed and acceleration relate to each other in the context of a car, questioning if acceleration leads to an increase in speed.
- Another participant clarifies that acceleration results in increased velocity when both acceleration and velocity are in the same direction, and notes that braking is also a form of acceleration in the opposite direction.
- There is acknowledgment that velocity encompasses both speed and direction.
Areas of Agreement / Disagreement
Participants generally agree on the definitions of speed, acceleration, and velocity, but there is some confusion regarding their interrelations, particularly in practical scenarios like a car's motion. The discussion does not reach a consensus on all aspects.
Contextual Notes
Some assumptions about the definitions of speed, acceleration, and velocity may not be explicitly stated, and the discussion does not resolve all nuances regarding their relationships in different contexts.
Could someone please explain what the difference is between speed and acceleration? I would sincerely appreciate it, thanks!- #2
Cyrus
- 3,246
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What are their definitions?
- #3
MoMo
- 3
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speed - a scalar quantity, which refers to how fast an object is moving
acceleration - a vector quantity, which is defined as the rate of change of velocity
...erm let me add velocity's def here as well:
velocity - a vector quantity, which refers to the rate at which an object changes its position and is computed from the displacement/time ratio
See, what confuses me is when I compare speed and acceleration in terms of a car. When a car accelerates, doesn't its speed increase? What does velocity have to do with these two terms as well? Btw thanks again :-)
acceleration - a vector quantity, which is defined as the rate of change of velocity
...erm let me add velocity's def here as well:
velocity - a vector quantity, which refers to the rate at which an object changes its position and is computed from the displacement/time ratio
See, what confuses me is when I compare speed and acceleration in terms of a car. When a car accelerates, doesn't its speed increase? What does velocity have to do with these two terms as well? Btw thanks again :-)
- #4
geoffjb
- 165
- 1
Acceleration is the rate of change of the velocity. So as long as acceleration and velocity are in the same direction, acceleration will result in increased velocity.MoMo said:
Don't forget that when you hit the brakes, the car also accelerates--just in the opposite direction to the velocity vector (or at least you hope it does).
Velocity is the speed of the car and its direction.MoMo said:
Last edited:
- #5
MoMo
- 3
- 0
That makes sense. Thank you :-)
- #6
geoffjb
- 165
- 1
My pleasure.MoMo said:
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