Question

which of the following is a unit for acceleration?
mi/hr
ft
m/s²
km/s

Explanation:

To determine the unit of acceleration, recall that acceleration is the rate of change of velocity. Velocity has units of length per time (e.g., m/s, km/h), so acceleration (change in velocity per time) has units of (length per time) per time, or length per time squared.

• \( \text{mi/hr} \) is a unit of velocity (distance over time).
• \( \text{ft} \) is a unit of length.
• \( \text{m/s}^2 \) is meters per second squared, which fits the formula for acceleration (change in velocity, in m/s, over time in seconds, so \( \frac{\text{m/s}}{\text{s}} = \text{m/s}^2 \)).
• \( \text{km/s} \) is a unit of velocity (distance over time).

Answer:

C. \( \text{m/s}^2 \)