How do velocity and acceleration differ?

1 Answer
Mar 30, 2018

See below:

Explanation:

Common calculus problems involve displacement-time functions,
d(t)d(t). For the sake of the argument let's use a quadratic to describe our displacement function.

d(t)=t^2-10t+25d(t)=t210t+25

Velocity is the rate of change of displacement- the derivative of a d(t)d(t) function yields a velocity function.

d'(t)=v(t)=2t-10

Acceleration is the rate of change of velocity- the derivative of a v(t) function or the second derivative of the d(t) function yields an acceleration function.

d''(t)=v'(t)=a(t)=2

Hopefully, that makes their distinction clearer.