Deceleration in physics refers to the slowing down of an object, which means that the magnitude of the velocity decreases. It is the opposite of acceleration and is also known as negative acceleration. Deceleration can be calculated by dividing the final velocity minus the initial velocity by the amount of time taken for this drop in velocity. The formula for deceleration is the same as that for acceleration, but with a negative sign to indicate that the velocity is decreasing. The deceleration formula is given by:

• a = (v - u) / t

Where:

• a is the deceleration value
• v is the final velocity
• u is the initial velocity
• t is the total time taken

If the value of distance travelled by the object is given instead of time taken, the formula is given by:

• a = -u^2 / 2s

Where:

• u is the initial velocity
• s is the distance covered

The SI unit of deceleration is m/s². Deceleration can be observed in our daily lives, such as when we use brakes in a vehicle while in motion, causing the vehicle to gradually come to rest.