why can an object accelerate at a constant speed, but not at a constant velocity?

Question

physics... why can an object accelerate at a constant speed, but not at a constant velocity?

Answer 1

accelerate at constant velocity?

if you accelerate ... that means your velocity changes..
acceleration == change in velocity

Answer 2

They don't accelerate at a constant speed -or- velocity (do you know the difference between speed and velocity? If not, nows the time to go find out)
Acceleration is defined as the change in velocity per unit of time. Therefore, no velocity change, no acceleration.

Doug

Answer 3

A Velocity means that you have a speed and a direction. like 35 mph N, or 25 mph in the positive direction.

In Order to Accelerate: You must change one of two things: Either your Speed, or the Direction that you are going, or BOTH.

So if you did not change your speed, then you would not accelerate. (Ignore direction in this answer for the way you phrased it)

Answer 4

Possibly, I`ll have to think about it|

The reason being, there is a distinction between the principles of "speed" and "velocity" - speed is simply how fast something is going without considering direction - velocity is speed considering direction, so as a result, speed is a *scalar* quantity, while *velocity* is a vector quantity|




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