Final answer:
When firm pressure is applied on the accelerator of a vehicle, it will accelerate quickly due to an increased flow of gasoline to the engine and a subsequent increase in the vehicle's velocity.
Step-by-step explanation:
When firm pressure is applied on the accelerator to increase the speed of the vehicle rapidly, the vehicle will accelerate quickly. This is because pushing the gas pedal down prompts a greater flow of gasoline to the engine, which leads to an increase in the car's velocity. In physics, velocity refers to the speed of an object in a given direction, and acceleration refers to the rate of change of velocity. Hence, by pressing the accelerator, the speed aspect of velocity is increased, resulting in acceleration.
In this context, acceleration means the vehicle's speed is increasing as more fuel is combusted in the engine, creating more power and propelling the car forward faster. The force applied by stepping on the gas pedal allows the vehicle to overcome various forms of resistance including air drag and friction. Newton's second law of motion states that the acceleration of an object is dependent on two variables: the net force acting upon the object and the mass of the object. Therefore, a greater force being applied through the accelerator pedal means a greater net force is acting on the vehicle, leading to faster acceleration if the mass remains constant.