Acceleration is

Prepare for the Leaving Certificate Physics Test. Dive into flashcards and multiple-choice questions, each featuring hints and explanations. Equip yourself for success on the exam!

Multiple Choice

Acceleration is

Explanation:
Acceleration is the rate at which velocity changes. Velocity is a vector, so it has both speed (how fast) and direction. If you speed up along a straight path, the velocity increases in magnitude, so there is acceleration. If you move in a circle at constant speed, your direction is continually changing, so the velocity changes even though the speed stays the same—that's also acceleration. The rate of change of distance would give speed, not acceleration, because distance is a scalar. Displacement per second is velocity, not acceleration. The rate of change of speed only covers changes in how fast you’re going, and misses changes in direction; so it wouldn’t describe all cases of acceleration.

Acceleration is the rate at which velocity changes. Velocity is a vector, so it has both speed (how fast) and direction. If you speed up along a straight path, the velocity increases in magnitude, so there is acceleration. If you move in a circle at constant speed, your direction is continually changing, so the velocity changes even though the speed stays the same—that's also acceleration.

The rate of change of distance would give speed, not acceleration, because distance is a scalar. Displacement per second is velocity, not acceleration. The rate of change of speed only covers changes in how fast you’re going, and misses changes in direction; so it wouldn’t describe all cases of acceleration.

More practice questions