Final Answer:
The appropriate definition to match the term "acceleration" is a) The rate of change of velocity of an object with respect to time.
Step-by-step explanation:
Acceleration is a fundamental concept in physics that describes the rate at which an object's velocity changes. It is a vector quantity, meaning that it has both magnitude and direction. The magnitude of acceleration is measured in units of meters per second squared (m/s²), while the direction of acceleration indicates the direction in which the object's velocity is changing.
The definition of acceleration is given mathematically by the following equation:
a = dv/dt
where:
a is the acceleration of the object
v is the velocity of the object
t is the time
This equation states that acceleration is equal to the derivative of velocity with respect to time. In other words, acceleration is the rate at which the object's velocity is changing.
The other options are incorrect because they do not describe the concept of acceleration. Option b, the force of gravity on an object, is related to acceleration, but it is not the same thing. Option c, the distance an object travels in a given time period, is a measure of speed, not acceleration. Option d, the resistance of an object to change in motion, is a measure of inertia, not acceleration.
Therefore, the only correct definition for acceleration is option a, the rate of change of velocity of an object with respect to time.
Option A is answer.