Definition ACCELERATION: Change from uniform motion. Acceleration in this broader sense may be 'acceleration' (speeding up), 'deceleration' (slowing down), 'centripetal' (change of direction) or a combination of these. UNIFORM MOTION: Motion in a straight line with unchanging speed.

When an object accelerates, it speeds up, slows down, changes direction or a combination of these. In the animation, you see three cars. Click on Start to set the cars in motion.

The first is moving in uniform motion with a constant speed. The second car is accelerating (speeding up) and the third car is decelerating (slowing down). Observe that the acceleration of the second car is CONSTANT. In each second this constant value of +0.0016 meters per second is added to the speed of the car. The deceleration of the third car is also CONSTANT. In each second this constant value of -0.0016 meters per second is subtracted from the speed of the car. Although the acceleration is constant in the two cases, the speeds of the two accelerating cars are not constant.

Click here to begin the animation.(Netscape Navigator)
Click here to begin the animation.(Microsoft Explorer)


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