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Acceleration is defined as a change in velocity of which kind?
AA change in its magnitude only
BA change in magnitude or direction
CA change in its direction only
DA change in the mass being moved
Answer & Solution
Correct answer: B. A change in magnitude or direction
1. Kinematics defines acceleration as the rate of change of velocity.
2. Velocity carries both a size and a direction, so either can change.
3. A change in either one, or in both together, counts as an acceleration.
4. This is exactly why uniform circular motion is an accelerated motion.
_Source: OpenStax College Physics (CC BY 4.0), Ch 6 "Uniform Circular Motion and Gravitation", section 6.2 Centripetal Acceleration_
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