Definition:Acceleration

Definition
The acceleration $\mathbf a$ of a body $M$ is defined as the first derivative of the velocity $\mathbf v$ of $M$ relative to a given point of reference time $t$:


 * $\mathbf a = \dfrac {\d \mathbf v} {\d t}$

Colloquially, it is described as the rate of change of velocity.

It is important to note that as velocity is a vector quantity, then it follows by definition of derivative of a vector that so is acceleration.

Also see

 * Definition:Displacement
 * Definition:Position


 * Definition:Velocity
 * Definition:Speed