Which of the following best describes the difference between the speed of an object and the acceleration of an object?

• A. Speed is the rate at which an object's acceleration changes, while acceleration is the total distance traveled by the object.
• B. Speed is the rate at which an object covers distance, while acceleration is the rate at which the object's velocity changes over time.
• C. Speed is measured in $m/s$, while acceleration is measured in $m/s^2$.
• D. Speed is always constant for any moving object, while acceleration is always zero.

Answer: (B)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Understand the definition of speed. Speed is a scalar quantity that measures how fast an object is moving, specifically the rate at which it covers distance. It is given by the formula \(\text{speed} = \frac{\text{distance}}{\text{time}}\).
2. Step 2: Understand the definition of acceleration. Acceleration is a vector quantity that measures how quickly an object's velocity changes with time. It can involve changes in speed or direction. The formula for acceleration is \(\text{acceleration} = \frac{\Delta \text{velocity}}{\Delta \text{time}}\).
3. Step 3: Note the difference in units. Speed is measured in meters per second (\(m/s\)), while acceleration is measured in meters per second squared (\(m/s^{2}\)), reflecting the change in velocity per unit time.
4. Step 4: Recognize that speed does not indicate direction, whereas acceleration involves changes in velocity, which includes both speed and direction.
5. Step 5: Conclude that the correct description is: Speed is the rate at which an object covers distance, while acceleration is the rate at which the object's velocity changes over time.