proper acceleration

noun

The acceleration felt by an object, as opposed to the coordinate acceleration. For example the acceleration of an object at the surface of the Earth is 9.81 m/s² upwards, but has no coordinate acceleration. The proper acceleration of an object is Lorentz invariant.

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Meanings

nounproper acceleration (plural proper accelerations)

plural proper accelerations

  1. natural sciencesThe acceleration felt by an object, as opposed to the coordinate acceleration. For example the acceleration of an object at the surface of the Earth is 9.81 m/s² upwards, but has no coordinate acceleration. The proper acceleration of an object is Lorentz invariant.
Cite this entry
APA

proper acceleration. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/proper%20acceleration

MLA

“proper acceleration.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/proper%20acceleration. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “proper acceleration,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/proper%20acceleration.

Source: proper acceleration on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.