Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 exam•Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
Vertical acceleration refers to the rate at which an object's velocity changes in the vertical direction. It measures how quickly an object speeds up or slows down as it moves vertically.
Related terms
Initial velocities: These are the starting velocities of an object in the vertical direction. They determine how fast an object is moving initially before any acceleration takes place.
Free fall: This term refers to the motion of an object falling under only gravitational force, with no other forces acting on it except for air resistance.
Projectile motion: This describes the curved path followed by an object launched into the air that experiences both horizontal and vertical accelerations simultaneously.