AFOQT Practice Test

What is acceleration in physics?

1. The rate at which velocity changes

2. The total distance traveled by an object

3. The speed of an object in motion

4. A measure of force exerted on an object

The correct answer is: The rate at which velocity changes

Acceleration in physics is defined as the rate at which an object's velocity changes over time. This means that if an object is speeding up, slowing down, or changing direction, it is experiencing acceleration. It is quantified as the change in velocity (which includes both speed and direction) divided by the time taken for that change. Understanding acceleration is fundamental in physics because it not only describes how quickly an object is gaining or losing speed but also encompasses variations in direction. For example, a car turning a corner at a constant speed is still accelerating because its direction is changing, even if its speed remains the same. In this context, the other options describe different concepts in physics: total distance traveled pertains to displacement rather than a rate of change; speed is a scalar quantity that indicates how fast an object is moving but does not provide information about changes in that speed; and force relates to mass and acceleration but is a distinct concept governed by Newton's second law of motion.