What does acceleration mean?
Word: Acceleration
Part of Speech: Noun
Meaning: Acceleration means the act of speeding up. In science, it means how quickly the speed of something changes.
Synonyms: speeding up
How do you spell acceleration?
Syllables: ac - cel - er - a - tion
Tricky part: Keep the double c and single l of accelerate. The shun sound at the end is spelt tion.
Watch out for: acelleration, accelleration, acceleraton
Memory tip: Accept, access and acceleration all begin with acc. After that, a single l is enough.
Acceleration in a sentence
Example 1: The new electric scooter has quick acceleration from a standstill.
Example 2: In the lab, we timed the acceleration of a marble on a ramp.
Example 3: The sudden acceleration of the roller coaster made everyone scream.
Fun Fact
During a rocket launch, the acceleration is so strong that astronauts are pressed back into their seats with a force several times their normal weight.
Practise the CREST Way
Word Cookie
Find the misspelt word in the sentence:
Our science teacher measured the accelerration of a toy car on the slope.
a) measured
b) science
c) slope
d) accelerration
Show answer
d) accelerration. Only one r sits in the middle, just as in accelerate.
Mingle-Mangle
Form a meaningful word from the jumbled letters:
neotcaclaire
a) declaration
b) celebration
c) acceleration
d) accelerating
Show answer
c) acceleration. With two c's, an o and no g, only acceleration fits.
Spell-o-Spell
Choose the incorrectly spelt word:
a) population
b) accelaration
c) education
d) celebration
Show answer
b) accelaration. Accelerate gives acceleration, so the letter after l is e, not a.
Word Connection
Choose the antonym of the word: acceleration
a) movement
b) deceleration
c) quickening
d) progress
Show answer
b) deceleration. Deceleration is slowing down, the reverse of speeding up.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. A car's acceleration tells you how quickly it ____.
a) uses up fuel
b) cools its engine
c) wears out its tyres
d) gains speed
Show answer
d) gains speed
2. A stone dropped from a cliff shows acceleration because it ____.
a) falls faster and faster
b) stops halfway down
c) falls at one steady speed
d) slows down as it falls
Show answer
a) falls faster and faster
