The important difference between velocity and acceleration is that velocity is the rate of any moving object in a particular direction while acceleration is the rate of change of velocity of this object.
Both velocity and acceleration are the basic concepts in physics which are utilized to describe motion. For a typical person, Velocity and acceleration both are same while a person related to physics understands the fundamental difference between them really well. Motion is the movement or the change in the position of a body with respect to time. Walking, running, driving, diving, flying of birds and falling of leaves etc., are all the countries of movement. Velocity is the rate of the moving body in a particular direction while acceleration is the change in velocity of the body with respect to time.
Comparison Chart
| Basis | Velocity | Acceleration |
| Definition | The rate of a moving object in a specific direction with respect to time is known as velocity. | The rate of change of velocity of a moving body is referred to as acceleration. |
| Character | It’s a vector quantity. | It’s also a vector quantity. |
| Change | Velocity is the rate of change of displacement of a moving body. | Acceleration is the rate of change of velocity of a moving body. |
| Formula | Displacement/time | Velocity/time |
| SI unit | Its SI unit is m/s. | Its SI unit is m/s^2 |
| Application | Velocity is used to gauge the time taken by a storm to achieve on a coastline. | Acceleration is used to assess the operation of a vehicle. |
What is Velocity?
Velocity is the distance the moving object has covered in a particular direction in a specific interval of time. In other words we can say it is the rate of change of displacement. When an object moves up to a particular point and then back to its starting place compared to the velocity of the moving object will be zero. It’s a vector quantity, i.e. both size and direction are expected to explain it. Velocity is used to gauge the time taken by a satellite to get to the moon. Its unit is m/s.
Formula
The velocity of a moving object can be find out by following formula.
Velocity = Displacement / time
Example
If a vehicle is moving 100m in 10 minutes towards north than its velocity is 10m/s towards the north.
What is Acceleration?
Change in velocity of a moving body with respect to time is called acceleration. In other words we can say it is the rate of change of velocity of a moving body. It’s the net effect of all of the forces acting on a body. Additionally it is a vector quantity. Acceleration is used to assess the performance of a moving body. An instrument called an accelerometer is used to gauge the acceleration. Its SI unit is m/s^2.
Types of Acceleration
There are two forms of acceleration.
Centripetal Acceleration
If a body is moving with uniform speed in a circular route than its acceleration is called centripetal acceleration since the direction of the movement is changing every second.
Tangential Acceleration
A sort of movement in which there is not any change in direction while rate is changing with time is called tangential acceleration.
Formula
Acceleration of a moving object can be find out by following formula.
Acceleration = Velocity / time
Example
A pendulum moving in a circular route is a good instance of centripetal acceleration since the direction of its velocity is continually changing in a circular path as a car moving such that its rate or velocity is continuesly increasing in precisely the exact same direction is an instance of tangential acceleration.
Key Differences between Velocity and Acceleration
- The rate of change of displacement is referred to as velocity whereas acceleration is the rate of change of velocity.
- SI unit of velocity is m/s while that of acceleration is m/s^
- Velocity can be quantified by dividing displacement by time while acceleration can be measured by dividing velocity punctually.
- Velocity is used to ascertain the time taken by a storm to achieve on a shore while acceleration is used to assess the operation of a vehicle.
Conclusion
According to preceding discussion, it is concluded that pace of change of displacement of a moving body with particular direction is known as its velocity whereas the rate of change of velocity of the body is called acceleration that’s also a vector quantity.