Question

An object that is accelerating may be: (choose all that apply)(2 points)
Responses

changing direction.
changing direction.

traveling at a constant speed
traveling at a constant speed

not moving.
not moving.

gaining speed.
gaining speed.

slowing down.
slowing down.

Answer 1

All of them.

Reason: acceleration means the velocity is changing (either magnitude or direction). So an accelerating object may be:
- changing direction (velocity direction changes),
- traveling at constant speed (if the direction is changing, e.g., uniform circular motion),
- not moving at that instant (velocity can be zero while acceleration ≠ 0, e.g., an object at the top of its toss),
- gaining speed (speed increasing),
- slowing down (speed decreasing).