Non-zero acceleration refers to a situation where an object’s velocity is changing over time. In other words, the object is either speeding up, slowing down, or changing direction. Acceleration is a vector quantity, meaning it has both magnitude and direction.
When the acceleration is non-zero, it indicates that there is a net force acting on the object. According to Newton’s second law of motion, the acceleration of an object is directly proportional to the net force acting on it and inversely proportional to its mass. This can be expressed as:
F = ma
Where:
- F is the net force acting on the object,
- m is the mass of the object,
- a is the acceleration of the object.
For example, when a car speeds up, it experiences non-zero acceleration because the force from the engine is greater than the opposing forces like friction and air resistance. Similarly, when a car slows down, it also experiences non-zero acceleration, but in the opposite direction of its motion.
In summary, non-zero acceleration occurs whenever there is a change in an object’s velocity, whether it’s speeding up, slowing down, or changing direction.