What Units Should Acceleration Be Measured In?

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the appropriate units for measuring acceleration, specifically whether it should be expressed in m/min² or the standard SI unit m/s². Participants agree that while m/min² is not incorrect, the standard and widely accepted unit for acceleration is m/s² due to its alignment with SI units for distance and time. It is recommended to convert time from minutes to seconds before graphing to maintain consistency with standard practices.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of acceleration and its mathematical definition as the slope of a graph.
  • Familiarity with SI units, specifically meters (m) and seconds (s).
  • Basic knowledge of graphing data and interpreting axes.
  • Ability to convert units of time from minutes to seconds.
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the significance of SI units in scientific measurements.
  • Learn how to convert units of time for accurate data representation.
  • Explore the implications of using non-standard units in scientific contexts.
  • Study the relationship between distance, time, and acceleration in physics.
USEFUL FOR

Students in physics or engineering, educators teaching kinematics, and anyone involved in data analysis requiring accurate unit conversions.

J_o_S
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the x-axis is in minutes, the y-axis is in m/min.

I know that the acceleration = the slope.

should my final answer be in m/min^2 ?

or should acceleration always be in m/s^2 ?

or does it not matter? :confused:


thanks :smile:
 
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There is nothing wrong with m/min^2 aside from it not being standard. Your best bet is just graphing it against seconds by converting your data from minutes to seconds BEFORE graphing.
 
yeah if I was taking down the data I would.
This is just a question on an assignment, where the graph is given.

Its an easy question, but after I did it the answer just doesn't look right to me, so I figured I'd ask.

acceleration has been in m/s^2 everytime I have come across it.
 
That is because meters and seconds are the SI units for time and distance. It is the international standard.
 
As whozum said, no problem at all. The important thing is that the units are distance over time squared. Remember that you can always convert between the standard m/s^2 and the non-standard m/min^2.
 

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