The units for acceleration are ___________

Acceleration is defined as the rate of change of velocity over time. The SI (Système International) unit for acceleration is meters per second squared, denoted as $\text{m/s}^2$. This unit indicates how much the velocity of an object changes (in meters per second) for every second that passes.

To elaborate, if an object accelerates at a rate of $1 \text{ m/s}^2$, it means that its velocity increases by $1 \text{ m/s}$ every second. For instance, if a car accelerates from rest at $2 \text{ m/s}^2$, after 1 second it will be moving at $2 \text{ m/s}$, after 2 seconds at $4 \text{ m/s}$, and so forth. Thus, understanding the unit of acceleration is crucial in physics as it provides insight into the motion of objects under various forces.