Acceleration is

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Acceleration is

Acceleration is the rate at which velocity changes. Velocity is a vector, meaning it has both a magnitude (speed) and a direction. Because of that, acceleration can happen if you speed up or slow down (change in speed) and also if you change direction (even if your speed stays the same). Saying acceleration is just the rate of change of speed misses changes in direction, which still constitute a change in velocity. For example, turning a car on a curve at constant speed involves acceleration toward the curve’s center. So the complete idea is the rate of change of velocity, which covers changes in both speed and direction.

Acceleration is the rate at which velocity changes. Velocity is a vector, meaning it has both a magnitude (speed) and a direction. Because of that, acceleration can happen if you speed up or slow down (change in speed) and also if you change direction (even if your speed stays the same). Saying acceleration is just the rate of change of speed misses changes in direction, which still constitute a change in velocity. For example, turning a car on a curve at constant speed involves acceleration toward the curve’s center. So the complete idea is the rate of change of velocity, which covers changes in both speed and direction.

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