Meters per square second explained
Meters per square second is the SI unit of acceleration, representing the rate of change of velocity per unit of time. It is widely used in physics and engineering to describe how quickly an object speeds up or slows down.
Symbol
The symbol for meters per second squared is m/s². It is a standard notation used in scientific and technical contexts worldwide.
Standardized Unit System
Meters per square second is part of the International System of Units (SI) and serves as the base unit for acceleration. Below is a table of related units:
| Unit | Symbol | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Meters per square second | m/s² | Base unit of acceleration |
| Gal | Gal | 0.01 m/s², used in geophysics |
| Feet per second squared | ft/s² | 0.3048 m/s², used in the imperial system |
Applications of meters per square second
Meters per second squared is used in various fields, including physics, engineering, and transportation. Common applications include:
- Describing the acceleration of vehicles, such as cars, trains, and airplanes
- Analyzing free-fall motion under gravity
- Modeling the dynamics of mechanical systems
Tools to Measure Acceleration
Acceleration in meters per square second can be measured using devices such as accelerometers, which are commonly used in smartphones, vehicles, and industrial equipment.
Origin of meters per square second
The concept of acceleration was first formalized by Sir Isaac Newton in his laws of motion.
FAQs
How is meters per square second related to gravity?
The acceleration due to gravity on Earth is approximately 9.8 m/s². This value is used in many physics calculations involving free-fall motion.
What is the difference between velocity and acceleration?
Velocity measures the speed and direction of an object, while acceleration measures the rate of change of velocity over time, expressed in m/s².
Can meters per square second be negative?
Yes, negative acceleration (deceleration) occurs when an object slows down, indicating a decrease in velocity over time.
How do I convert meters per square second to other acceleration units?
Use the links below for easy conversions from meters per square second to other acceleration units available on this website.
- Meters per square second to kilometers per square hour
- Meters per square second to kilometers per square minute
- Meters per square second to kilometers per square second
- Meters per square second to miles per square hour
- Meters per square second to miles per square minute
- Meters per square second to miles per square second
- Meters per square second to inches per square second
- Meters per square second to feet per square second
- Meters per square second to yards per square second
- Meters per square second to gals
- Meters per square second to microgals
- Meters per square second to galileo
- Meters per square second to standard gravity
- Meters per square second to quettameters per square second
- Meters per square second to ronnameters per square second
- Meters per square second to yottameters per square second
- Meters per square second to zettameters per square second
- Meters per square second to exameters per square second
- Meters per square second to petameters per square second
- Meters per square second to terameters per square second
- Meters per square second to gigameters per square second
- Meters per square second to megameters per square second
- Meters per square second to hectometers per square second
- Meters per square second to dekameters per square second
- Meters per square second to decimeters per square second
- Meters per square second to centimeters per square second
- Meters per square second to millimeters per square second
- Meters per square second to micrometers per square second
- Meters per square second to nanometers per square second
- Meters per square second to picometers per square second
- Meters per square second to femtometers per square second
- Meters per square second to attometers per square second
- Meters per square second to zeptometers per square second
- Meters per square second to yoctometers per square second
- Meters per square second to rontometers per square second
- Meters per square second to quectometers per square second