The change in velocity over time is called what?

The change in velocity over time is called what?

• A. Force
• B. Weight
• C. Speed
• D. Acceleration

Answer: (D)

Acceleration is the change in velocity over time. Velocity includes both speed and direction, so any change—speeding up, slowing down, or turning—means the velocity is changing, which is acceleration. The idea is captured by a = Δv/Δt, with units in meters per second squared. If velocity stays constant, there’s no acceleration. The other terms don’t describe how motion changes: speed is only how fast, not direction; force is what can cause a change in motion; weight is a force due to gravity, not the rate of change of motion.

Acceleration is the change in velocity over time. Velocity includes both speed and direction, so any change—speeding up, slowing down, or turning—means the velocity is changing, which is acceleration. The idea is captured by a = Δv/Δt, with units in meters per second squared. If velocity stays constant, there’s no acceleration. The other terms don’t describe how motion changes: speed is only how fast, not direction; force is what can cause a change in motion; weight is a force due to gravity, not the rate of change of motion.