The equation vf = vi + at represents the relationship between final velocity (vf), initial velocity (vi), acceleration (a), and time (t) for a linearly accelerating object.
To solve for acceleration (a), you can rearrange the equation to be a = (vf - vi) / t. This means that you subtract the initial velocity (vi) from the final velocity (vf) and then divide that value by the time (t).
The units for acceleration in this equation are meters per second squared (m/s^2), as acceleration is a measure of how much an object's velocity changes per unit of time.
Yes, this equation can be used for both positive and negative acceleration. If the final velocity (vf) is greater than the initial velocity (vi), then the acceleration (a) will be positive. If the final velocity (vf) is less than the initial velocity (vi), then the acceleration (a) will be negative.
This equation, vf = vi + at, is derived from Newton's Second Law of Motion, which states that the net force acting on an object is equal to its mass multiplied by its acceleration (F = ma). By rearranging this equation to solve for acceleration, we get a = F/m. When we substitute in the equation for force (F = ma) into this equation, we get a = (ma)/m = a, which is equivalent to vf = vi + at.