Definition:Instantaneous Acceleration

Definition
Let $B$ be a body in motion.

Let $\Bbb I = \closedint t {t + h}$ be a time interval.

Let $\mathbf v_1$ and $\mathbf v_2$ be the velocity of $B$ at $t$ and $t + h$ respectively.

Let $\overline {\mathbf a}$ denote the average acceleration of $B$ over $\Bbb I$.

The instantaneous acceleration $\mathbf a$ of $B$ at time $t$ is defined as the limit of $\overline {\mathbf a}$ as $h \to 0$:


 * $\mathbf a := \ds \lim_{h \mathop \to 0} \dfrac {\mathbf v_2 - \mathbf v_1} h$

Also see

 * Definition:Acceleration
 * Definition:Average Acceleration