The rate at which something speeds up; in physics, how quickly an object’s velocity changes over time.
From Latin *acceleratio* “a hastening,” from *accelerare* “to quicken.” It became a key term in physics for changes in motion.
Acceleration isn’t just ‘going fast’—it’s how quickly your speed itself is changing. That’s why you can feel acceleration (being pushed back in a seat) even when you can’t tell how fast you’re already going.
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