I don't understand acceleration and how something can accelerate without speeding up.

For this we must take a step back and analyse the meaning of acceleration. Acceleration is a change in VELOCITY - this is very important. Velocity is speed in a particular DIRECTION. You may be confusing velocity with speed which has no direction.

An object can accelerate without actually increasing in speed - it may just be changing direction. For example, a satellite in orbit around the earth is always changing direction as it moves in orbit, but it stays at the same speed. We say that it is constantly accelerating because its velocity is changing. Velocity can change if EITHER the direction changes OR the speed changes (or both).

JS
Answered by Jana S. Physics tutor

5774 Views

See similar Physics GCSE tutors

Related Physics GCSE answers

All answers ▸

Discuss how X-rays and Ultrasound can be used for medical purposes, including their advantages and disadvantages.


Explain, with reference to the Schwarzschild radius, why the sun isn’t a black hole.


Describe the energy changes as electricity is produced in a fossil fuel station.


When a toothbrush is charging, p.d. across the primary coil is 230 V, p.d. across the secondary coil is 7.2 V. The primary coil in the charging base has 575 turns of wire on its coil. Find the number of turns on the secondary coil inside the toothbrush.


We're here to help

contact us iconContact ustelephone icon+44 (0) 203 773 6020
Facebook logoInstagram logoLinkedIn logo

© MyTutorWeb Ltd 2013–2025

Terms & Conditions|Privacy Policy
Cookie Preferences