Calculating acceleration involves dividing velocity by time — or in terms of units, dividing meters per second [m/s] by second [s]. Dividing distance by time twice is the same as dividing distance by the square of time. Thus the SI unit of acceleration is the meter per second squared.
Also asked, what is the SI base unit for acceleration?
Derived quantity | Name | Symbol |
---|---|---|
speed, velocity | meter per second | m/s |
acceleration | meter per second squared | m/s2 |
wave number | reciprocal meter | m-1 |
mass density | kilogram per cubic meter | kg/m3 |
How can you use the definition of acceleration to explain the units in which acceleration is measured?
In physics or physical science, acceleration (symbol: a) is defined as the rate of change (or derivative with respect to time) of velocity. It is thus a vector quantity with dimension length/time². In SI units, acceleration is measured in meters/second² using an accelerometer.