Which best explains why a satellite accelerates?

Question

It is always changing direction.
It is constantly slowed by gravity.
It does not have forces acting on it.
It is weightless when it is in orbit.

Answer 1

The best explanation for why a satellite accelerates is:

It is always changing direction.

Even though a satellite may be moving at a constant speed in its orbit, it is continuously changing direction due to the gravitational pull of the planet it is orbiting. This change in direction is a form of acceleration, as acceleration is defined as a change in velocity, which includes changes in speed or direction.