Metre per second squared

Metre per second squared (m/s²) is the SI unit of acceleration. It is a measure of how quickly the velocity of an object changes. The velocity in question is measured in m/s, and the acceleration is how much this velocity changes within each second.

Definition

The metre per second squared is defined as the acceleration of an object which changes its velocity by one metre per second (1 m/s) every second. It is a derived unit in the SI, constructed from the basic SI units of length (metre) and time (second). Thus, it is expressed algebraically as m/s².

Usage

Acceleration in metres per second squared is a common unit of measurement in physics, particularly in equations of motion. It is used to describe the acceleration of objects under the influence of forces, including gravity. On the surface of the Earth, the acceleration due to gravity is approximately 9.81 m/s², a value often rounded to 9.8 m/s² for simplicity in calculations.

Equations of Motion

The equations of motion, which describe the relationship between an object's velocity, acceleration, and displacement over time, often use m/s² as the unit of acceleration. These equations are fundamental in the study of kinematics and dynamics.

Gravitational Acceleration

The standard acceleration due to gravity on Earth's surface is denoted as g, and its value is approximately 9.81 m/s². This value varies slightly depending on altitude and geographical location due to Earth's shape and density variations.

Conversion

To convert acceleration from units of feet per second squared (ft/s²) to metres per second squared, one can use the conversion factor: 1 ft/s² = 0.3048 m/s².

See Also

• Velocity
• Second
• International System of Units
• Kinematics
• Dynamics