Acceleration is_______ (1 point)
A. An object's speed in a specific direction
B. An object's velocity's rate of change
C. An object's speed when its motion is constant
D. An object's direction's rate of change
B. An object's velocity's rate of change
To determine the correct answer, let's break down each option and understand what it means:
A. An object's speed in a specific direction: This is not the correct definition of acceleration. Speed refers to the rate at which an object moves, while acceleration describes the rate at which an object's velocity changes.
B. An object's velocity's rate of change: This is the correct definition. Velocity is a vector quantity that includes both speed and direction. Acceleration represents the rate at which the velocity of an object changes over time.
C. An object's speed when its motion is constant: This is not the correct definition. When an object's motion is constant, it means there is no change in its velocity or speed. Acceleration does not occur in this scenario.
D. An object's direction's rate of change: This is not the correct definition. While acceleration encompasses changes in direction, it also accounts for changes in speed. Simply focusing on the change in direction alone does not provide a complete understanding of acceleration.
Therefore, the correct answer to the question is B. An object's velocity's rate of change.