What is an example of acceleration in motion?

Acceleration refers to a change in velocity over time, which can occur when an object's speed increases, decreases, or changes direction. Free fall is a prime example of acceleration in motion because it involves an object being influenced by gravity, causing it to accelerate toward the Earth at a rate of approximately 9.8 meters per second squared. During free fall, the object's speed increases as it descends, clearly illustrating the concept of acceleration.

In contrast, constant speed indicates that an object is moving at the same rate without changing its velocity, which means there is no acceleration occurring. Zero velocity means the object is not moving at all, so it cannot be considered as having any acceleration. Distance traveled, while a measure of how far an object has moved, does not imply any change in speed or direction, and hence does not relate directly to the concept of acceleration. Therefore, the scenario of free fall exemplifies acceleration by demonstrating a change in velocity due to the force of gravity acting on the object.