acceleration

Acceleration is when speed changes, whether it gets faster or slower.

We use this word a lot when talking about cars and driving. Imagine you're on the highway, cruising along at 60 miles per hour. Then someone slams on the gas and suddenly you're going 80! That's acceleration - your car is getting faster. On the other hand, if you hit the brakes hard, your speed starts to slow down, that's deceleration. But when we talk about sports, like basketball or soccer, acceleration can also mean quick changes in direction. A player might accelerate from a stop, suddenly speeding up as they run towards the goal.