Acceleration is a change in velocity, not just speed.
* Speed is how fast something is moving (e.g., 60 mph).
* Velocity is speed *and* direction (e.g., 60 mph due north).
Here's how you can accelerate while maintaining a constant speed:
* Circular motion: Imagine a car going around a roundabout at a steady 30 mph. Even though the car's speed is constant, its direction is constantly changing. Since velocity includes direction, the car is accelerating. This acceleration is called centripetal acceleration, directed towards the center of the circle.
Example:
* You're driving a car in a circle at a constant 20 mph. You're constantly accelerating because your direction is changing, even if your speed stays the same.
Key takeaway: Acceleration occurs whenever there's a change in velocity, even if the speed remains constant. This happens when something is changing direction.
