Differences Between Acceleration and Velocity

In this article, we shall take a look at the major differences between Acceleration and Velocity.

Comparison Chart

Comparison Basis	Velocity	Acceleration
Meaning	It alludes to the speed of an object in a given direction.	Acceleration implies any change in the velocity of an object with respect to time
Calculated With	Displacement	Velocity
What is its Nature?	Vector	Vector
What is it?	Rate of change of displacement	Rate of Change of Velocity
Formula	Displacement/Time (d/t)	Change in velocity/Time (v/t)
Ascertains	How fast is an object moving, and in which direction	How fast an object’s velocity changes with time.
Unit of Measurement	meter/second (m/s)	meter/second2 (m/s2)

Acceleration

Acceleration is a vector quantity that is defined as the rate at which an object changes its velocity. An object is accelerating if it is changing its velocity. As velocity is an example of vector, it has direction and magnitude. So we can explain the acceleration in any of these three ways:

1. a change in direction (from East to North-East)
2. a change in both speed and direction (from 34 km/h East to 12 km/h West)
3. a change in speed, the magnitude of the velocity (from 34 km/h to 67 km/h)

Newton’s Second Law of Motion

The acceleration of an object is directly proportional to the force acting on it and inversely proportional to its mass. Simply put, the force causes an object to accelerate, while the object’s mass resists acceleration.