To determine if a car is accelerating, we need to understand that acceleration can occur either when there is a change in speed or a change in direction.
Here's an analysis of each scenario:
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A car that is gradually coming to a stop - This car is decelerating (negatively accelerating), so it is indeed accelerating.
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A car on cruise control going 55 MPH on a straight road - This car is moving at a constant speed with no change in velocity, so it is not accelerating.
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A car that is changing lanes - Changing lanes involves a change in direction, which means the car is accelerating even if its speed remains constant.
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A car on a straight road going a constant speed of 70 MPH - Similar to scenario 2, there is no change in speed or direction, so it is not accelerating.
Based on this analysis, the scenarios that describe a car that is accelerating are:
- A car that is gradually coming to a stop
- A car that is changing lanes