Question

determine the cause of acceleration in each scenario.
an airplane turning from south to west at constant speed is accelerating due to a change in
a biker going 7 m/s west after travelling north at 5 m/s is accelerating due to a change in
a runaway shopping cart speeding up as it goes down a hill is accelerating due to a change in

Explanation:

Acceleration occurs when there is a change in velocity, which has both speed and direction components.

1. The airplane’s speed is constant, but its direction changes (south to west), so acceleration is due to direction change.
2. The biker’s speed changes (5 m/s to 7 m/s) and direction changes (north to west), so acceleration is due to both speed and direction change.
3. The shopping cart’s speed increases (speeding up) while direction (downhill) is consistent, so acceleration is due to speed change.

Answer:

1. direction
2. speed and direction
3. speed